Poppy unveils proactive AI assistant to organize your digital life
Smartphones often overwhelm users with countless apps and nonstop notifications. Poppy, a new app, helps bring order to the clutter by consolidating your calendar, email, messages, and other sources into one dashboard.
The company’s website explains: “Poppy pays attention so you don’t have to.”
Users can link services such as email, calendar, and (at minimum) location to Poppy. The app then combines this data with AI to determine what matters most at any given moment, based on your current context. In essence, you can open the app or check its widgets to see upcoming meetings or tasks.
However, Poppy’s standout feature may be its proactive suggestions.

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
For example, if Poppy has access to your calendar and notices a 30-minute gap while you’re near a park, it might suggest taking a break and going for a walk before your next meeting. If you’re planning a brunch with a friend who previously mentioned dietary preferences, Poppy can incorporate that into restaurant recommendations.
You can also message Poppy with questions or requests, much like having a personal assistant. It can track flights, send alerts about changes, or remind you to take medication.

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
Sai Kambampati, the creator of Poppy, says he has long been fascinated by human-computer interaction. He earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a specialization in that field. Formerly a software engineer at AI hardware startup Humane, he witnessed firsthand how people are rethinking their relationship with technology.
“I've always been interested in pushing the boundaries of what computers can do, especially the concept of ambient computing—machines that proactively sense and anticipate your needs,” Kambampati told TechCrunch. “That's something I find incredibly exciting. With all the AI technology we're seeing now, it feels more possible than ever to pursue something like this.”

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
At launch, Poppy integrates with common apps such as Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Gmail, Outlook, iCloud Mail, Apple Health, Reminders, Contacts, iMessage, WhatsApp, and more. (It accesses iMessage via a Mac app, which could become problematic since Apple typically restricts third-party access to its messaging service.) It also works with Uber, Instacart, and similar services, with plans to expand support over time.
The company states that user data is encrypted at rest, and it enforces a zero-retention policy when using cloud-based LLMs for suggestions. Eventually, however, Kambampati hopes to shift to local, on-device AI models as technology progresses.
“My hope and dream is that within two to three years, as devices become more powerful and models become smaller, cheaper, and higher quality, everything will run locally on our own devices—no need to hit the servers at all,” he says.
Poppy’s four-person team, based in San Francisco, is supported by $1.25 million in pre-seed funding led by Kindred Ventures, with participation from several angel investors, including DeepMind’s Logan Kilpatrick.
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Smartphones often overwhelm users with countless apps and nonstop notifications. Poppy, a new app, helps bring order to the clutter by consolidating your calendar, email, messages, and other sources into one dashboard.
The company’s website explains: “Poppy pays attention so you don’t have to.”
Users can link services such as email, calendar, and (at minimum) location to Poppy. The app then combines this data with AI to determine what matters most at any given moment, based on your current context. In essence, you can open the app or check its widgets to see upcoming meetings or tasks.
However, Poppy’s standout feature may be its proactive suggestions.

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
For example, if Poppy has access to your calendar and notices a 30-minute gap while you’re near a park, it might suggest taking a break and going for a walk before your next meeting. If you’re planning a brunch with a friend who previously mentioned dietary preferences, Poppy can incorporate that into restaurant recommendations.
You can also message Poppy with questions or requests, much like having a personal assistant. It can track flights, send alerts about changes, or remind you to take medication.

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
Sai Kambampati, the creator of Poppy, says he has long been fascinated by human-computer interaction. He earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a specialization in that field. Formerly a software engineer at AI hardware startup Humane, he witnessed firsthand how people are rethinking their relationship with technology.
“I've always been interested in pushing the boundaries of what computers can do, especially the concept of ambient computing—machines that proactively sense and anticipate your needs,” Kambampati told TechCrunch. “That's something I find incredibly exciting. With all the AI technology we're seeing now, it feels more possible than ever to pursue something like this.”

Image credit:Poppy/Second Nature Computing
At launch, Poppy integrates with common apps such as Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Gmail, Outlook, iCloud Mail, Apple Health, Reminders, Contacts, iMessage, WhatsApp, and more. (It accesses iMessage via a Mac app, which could become problematic since Apple typically restricts third-party access to its messaging service.) It also works with Uber, Instacart, and similar services, with plans to expand support over time.
The company states that user data is encrypted at rest, and it enforces a zero-retention policy when using cloud-based LLMs for suggestions. Eventually, however, Kambampati hopes to shift to local, on-device AI models as technology progresses.
“My hope and dream is that within two to three years, as devices become more powerful and models become smaller, cheaper, and higher quality, everything will run locally on our own devices—no need to hit the servers at all,” he says.
Poppy’s four-person team, based in San Francisco, is supported by $1.25 million in pre-seed funding led by Kindred Ventures, with participation from several angel investors, including DeepMind’s Logan Kilpatrick.
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