Instinct’s new product recommendations are giving some users the ick

AI startup Instinct has introduced a new revenue stream through product recommendations, but the rollout has faced immediate backlash from users. The new feature, "Instinct Selections," aims to curate personalized lists for dining, travel, and shopping. Founder Noah Shinn explained that the goal is to partner with human experts, such as chefs and designers, to provide recommendations that go beyond standard web-based AI training data. Shinn believes this "human touch" will differentiate Instinct from other chatbots. However, the initial reception has been largely negative. Users, including Shruti Gandhi of Array VC, have criticized the unsolicited product pushes, describing the experience as disappointing and comparing the app to a generic, intrusive shopping platform rather than a helpful AI assistant.