{
  "id": 10738227,
  "title": "AI-powered app maker Wabi pivots to a messaging experience",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ai-powered-app-maker-wabi-pivots-to-a-messaging-experience",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-29T17:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/ai-powered-app-maker-wabi-pivots-to-a-messaging-experience/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wabi, an artificial intelligence startup that enabled users to create apps via prompts, is shifting its focus to a messaging experience. This pivot comes as demand for AI agents, such as Meta's Muse and Instinct, surges. Wabi's new offering, Wabi 2.0, will be an AI-powered messenger that still possesses the ability to generate apps to aid users in accomplishing tasks. Founder Eugenia Kuyda, who previously established the AI companion startup Replika, described Wabi 2.0 as a \"personal agent that does stuff for you and builds the interface you need in the moment.\"\n\nWabi 2.0 aims to compete more directly with AI agents that merge conversations and productivity tasks within a single interface. This shift is also influenced by companies like OpenAI contemplating how applications will function within their broader chatbot user interfaces. OpenAI recently unveiled an update to ChatGPT's plugins, enabling apps to deliver interactive experiences within ChatGPT, and positioning the app's name more prominently in ChatGPT's sidebar.\n\nKuyda addressed the shift in a post on X, stating that as users employ chat-only agents, the experience deteriorates due to the overwhelming amount of information. People desire more than just typing to an agent; they seek a blend of tapping, scrolling, and visual elements. Kuyda asserted that the most potent agent will be the one that integrates both conversational elements and software functionalities.\n\nWabi 2.0 users can request the creation of custom interfaces on the fly to assist with various tasks. For example, in the context of health, users could build a calorie tracker, a weightlifting log, and a weight tracker, all accessible through Kuyda's thread on health-related topics. In a thread focused on family, users could create a calendar for their children's activities, a language learning app, an app for local kid-friendly events, and other tools pertinent to parenting, household management, or the children's interests.\n\nCurrently, Wabi 2.0 is accessible only through an invite code, which is being distributed via X.",
  "summary": "Wabi is repositioning its prompt-based app builder as a personal AI agent that can create interfaces on demand, combining chat, apps and ongoing tasks.",
  "key_points": [
    "Wabi shifts focus to messaging experience with Wabi 2.0",
    "AI-powered messenger integrates app generation for tasks",
    "Founder Eugenia Kuyda emphasizes blending conversations and software"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}