AI
Acti Embeds AI Agents Directly Into Your Phone's Keyboard
A new startup is integrating AI-powered agents into smartphone keyboards, letting users take action without leaving their messaging and email apps.
TechCrunch — AI
Singapore-based Acti has launched an AI-powered keyboard for iOS and Android that goes beyond word prediction—it executes actions on users' behalf while they type in email, messaging, and social apps. The startup has just raised $5.3 million in seed funding led by BITKRAFT Ventures.
The Problem of App-Switching#
Today's AI tools typically live in dedicated apps, forcing users to jump between platforms to get assistance. Acti solves this by embedding AI capabilities into the keyboard interface itself—the software layer people interact with most. If you're chatting with friends, you can ask the keyboard to find a restaurant recommendation and share it right in the conversation. If someone mentions a stock price, the keyboard can pull live data without making you switch apps.
How It Works#
The keyboard runs on Google's Gemini models, chosen for speed, reliability, and multilingual support. Acti takes a local-first approach, keeping personal context on users' devices unless they explicitly trigger a feature requiring cloud processing. This design protects privacy while enabling intelligent assistance across apps.
The app's signature feature is Skills—custom shortcuts that automate multi-step tasks. Press "T" to translate a message; press "C" to generate a meeting link. Early testers created over 1,000 Skills in less than two weeks, and users can build new ones simply by describing what they want in plain language, no coding required.
The Larger Vision#
Founder and CEO Young Wang previously built the Facemoji Keyboard at Baidu to 300 million daily active users. He described the shift: "Text was no longer just something people typed; it had become a carrier of intent. And in many everyday contexts, that intent can now be directly translated into action." Acti positions the keyboard as the foundational interface for the AI era.
Users can keep Skills private or share them in a marketplace where others browse and download community-built shortcuts. This ecosystem could eventually unlock additional revenue streams for the company.
Monetization#
Acti plans to generate revenue through subscription tiers offering more advanced models, higher daily usage limits, and premium features. Skills marketplace opportunities may follow as the platform matures.
