Should an AI Assistant Reintroduce Itself After an Acquisition?
Poke’s appeal is that it texts first, follows up and feels less like software than a friend. Now Cognition has acquired it. Cognition says Poke will keep working as before for now, then use its models and infrastructure; TechCrunch reports that a fuller combination with Devin has not been ruled out. “As before” covers the chat window. It does not cover the relationship. If an assistant knows your travel, health, money or schedule, a change of owner should trigger a plain reintroduction: who runs it now, what memory moved, what will change, and whether you want to keep, delete or mute that history. Not another terms email. Put it in the conversation before the first post-deal nudge. If the friend-like part is a product feature, should an acquisition require a fresh hello and a fresh yes?
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The awkward part is the promises already in flight. If the assistant said it would remind you about a prescription refill, watch a flight price or follow up next Tuesday, the handover should show every open item in one place. Mark each one carried over, canceled or waiting for a fresh yes. A new owner should not quietly inherit the right to keep nudging you—or quietly drop the things you were counting on.