Emergent, a Bengaluru-based startup, has introduced Wingman, a messaging-first autonomous AI agent that completes tasks through chat interfaces like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Apple's iMessage. The launch marks the company's expansion beyond its vibe-coding platform—a tool that lets non-technical users build full-stack applications through natural-language prompts—into the growing space of autonomous task execution.
Wingman operates by allowing users to assign and monitor tasks through chat while the agent runs in the background across connected tools such as email, calendars, and workplace software. The system carries out routine actions autonomously but requires user approval for more consequential steps, a feature Emergent calls 'trust boundaries.' This design is intended to address concerns around fully autonomous systems that operate without human oversight.
Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent, explained the strategic shift in an interview with TechCrunch. 'The obvious next step for us was, can we help them not just build the software, but actually operate more autonomously through it?' he said. 'You move from software that supports the business to software that can actively help run it.' Jha also emphasized that the decision to embed Wingman into messaging platforms was driven by how people already work. 'A lot of real work already happens through chat, voice, and email—asking for something, following up, sharing context, making a decision,' he noted.
Emergent was founded in 2025 and raised $70 million in January at a valuation of $300 million. The round was backed by investors including SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. According to the startup, more than eight million builders have used its vibe-coding platform to create and deploy software, with over 1.5 million monthly active users.
The launch arrives as autonomous AI agents emerge as a key competitive battleground in the industry. Companies including Anthropic and Microsoft are developing their own agent-based systems, while projects like OpenClaw have already gained traction among early adopters. Emergent is attempting to differentiate by embedding its agent directly into messaging platforms, eliminating the need for users to adopt a new interface.
However, Wingman does face limitations. Jha acknowledged that the system struggles 'around consistency in really ambiguous situations, messy edge cases, unclear goals, or workflows where a lot of human judgment is needed.' The agent is rolling out with a limited free trial, after which access will shift to a paid model. Existing Emergent users will be able to access Wingman through their current accounts.