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May 28, 20261
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Sesame, AI startup from Oculus founders, launches iOS app with conversational agents
Sesame, an AI startup founded by former Oculus leaders, launched its iOS app featuring four conversational AI agents designed to mimic natural human dialogue. The app employs advanced technology to balance quick responses with thoughtful answers, and the company plans to expand to intelligent eyewear in 2027 and later enable agents to take actions on users' behalf.
Quick Facts
Who
Sesame co-founders (former Oculus leaders)
What
Launched iOS app with conversational AI agents
When
May 28, 2026 (iOS app launch)
Where
39 countries (iOS app availability)
- Launched iOS app with conversational AI agents
- Developed technology for parallel searches while speaking
- Added features: search cards, notes, texting mode, deep dives, incognito mode
- Raised $250 million Series B funding
- Plans to launch intelligent eyewear in 2027
Sesame, a conversational AI startup co-founded by former Oculus leaders who previously sold the VR company to Meta, has released a public preview of its iOS app featuring advanced AI agents. The company, which has been developing its technology for over a year, aims to reimagine the traditional chatbot experience by creating more natural conversations where AI can think and speak simultaneously, similar to human dialogue.
The startup has developed a technical approach to balance responsiveness with thoughtfulness, addressing what it describes as "an inherent tension between replying quickly and taking the time to compose thoughtful responses." The solution involves fast search and retrieval systems that provide up-to-date information, combined with technology allowing the AI to conduct multiple parallel searches while speaking, weaving results into responses naturally and even pivoting mid-sentence when new information emerges.
The iOS app features four distinct AI agents named Maya, Miles, Simone, and Charlie, each with unique voices, personalities, points of view, and memory capabilities. During its beta testing phase, Sesame accumulated over a million users within weeks and refined its offering based on feedback, adding features including search cards with image results, note-taking capabilities, a texting mode for silent communication, deep dive functionality for detailed results, and an incognito mode for private conversations that preserves context without saving to memory.
Sesame raised $250 million in Series B funding from Sequoia and other investors to support its growth. The company's broader vision extends beyond mobile applications; it is planning to launch intelligent eyewear products in 2027. Additionally, Sesame intends to evolve its agents beyond conversational capabilities to take actions on behalf of users, fundamentally changing how people interact with AI-powered tools without requiring precise command formulation.
The iOS app is available today in 39 countries with full functionality provided free of charge, though new users may encounter a short waitlist during sign-up. An Android preview version is planned for future release.
Topics
Why This Matters
Sesame represents a significant shift in conversational AI design, moving beyond traditional chatbot constraints to enable more natural, human-like interactions. For users, this means more intuitive AI assistance that can think and speak simultaneously; for the broader AI industry, it demonstrates a viable technical approach to balancing speed and thoughtfulness—a critical competitive differentiator. The $250 million Series B funding and expansion roadmap signal strong investor confidence in this new interaction paradigm, while the planned intelligent eyewear integration suggests how conversational AI may reshape hands-free computing by 2027.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2025
WireSeries B funding round of $250 million from Sequoia and others
May 28, 2026
WireiOS app public preview launched in 39 countries
Jan 1, 2027
WirePlanned launch of intelligent eyewear products