Viral AI startup Instinct has raised $350 million at a $2.5 billion valuation

Instinct, a year-old AI-assistant startup led by 23-year-old founder Noah Shinn, raised $250 million in a Series B round co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark, bringing total funding to $350 million and valuing the company at $2.5 billion. The private-beta service integrates with users’ apps and devices to schedule trips, purchase groceries, cancel subscriptions and even plan weddings, but has drawn privacy criticism over its extensive permissions and terms of use.