On Thursday, Sesame, an AI startup co-founded by the original creators of Oculus along with other former members of the VR company now under Meta, unveiled a public preview of its conversational AI agents after more than a year of development. The launch coincides with the release of its new iOS app, which aims to transform the conventional AI chatbot experience that has become commonplace with applications like ChatGPT, by introducing a more fluid and human-like conversational flow, even allowing the AI time to process its thoughts.
In its announcement, Sesame addressed a key issue: “There’s an inherent tension between replying quickly and taking the time to compose thoughtful responses. A slower response is usually more correct, but it can also feel unnatural if it takes too long.”
To tackle this dilemma, Sesame has implemented advanced search and retrieval systems that enable the AI to access real-time information and perform multiple searches simultaneously while engaging in conversation. This innovative approach allows the AI to respond in a more human-like manner, even adjusting its direction mid-discourse to incorporate new insights, reflecting how people recall additional facts as discussions progress.
The app features four unique AI agents—Maya, Miles, Simone, and Charlie—each equipped with its own voice, personality, perspective, and memory. Previously, Maya and Miles were part of the earlier Research Preview that attracted over a million users within weeks, according to investor Sequoia, following Sesame’s recent $250 million Series B funding round.
Throughout the beta phase, Sesame enhanced the app based on user feedback, introducing features like search cards to visually represent concepts, notes for essential takeaways, a texting mode for silent interactions, and an option for more in-depth explorations of topics. An incognito mode was also added for private dialogues, allowing agents to reference past context while maintaining user privacy by not retaining that information for future conversations.
This iOS app launch represents just the beginning of Sesame’s ambitious vision for AI, which includes plans for intelligent eyewear set to debut in 2027. Before reaching that milestone, the company hints that its agents will evolve beyond just engaging in conversation and may eventually perform tasks on users' behalf, which explains the term "agents" instead of merely calling them chatbots.
This is particularly intriguing because current interactive tools typically require users to issue specific commands with clear intentions on desired outcomes. A naturally conversational agent could facilitate users in taking action without needing to meticulously refine their requests.
The iOS app is now available in 39 countries, offering a complimentary full experience for the time being, although there might be a brief waitlist during registration. An Android version of the app is also anticipated for release in the near future.
