Acti embeds AI agents directly into smartphone keyboards

The core philosophy behind Acti is to treat the keyboard as a universal context layer. According to founder and CEO Young Wang, today’s AI experience is hampered by fragmented data trapped within individual applications. By sitting across every app—from email to social media—the keyboard can bridge these silos. For example, a user can pull a local restaurant recommendation or a live stock price directly into a chat window without leaving the conversation.

Powered by Google’s Gemini models, the app features custom shortcuts known as Skills. Users can configure a single key to trigger multi-step workflows, such as translating text or generating meeting links. These shortcuts are built using natural language, allowing non-coders to create complex automation. To address privacy concerns, the startup employs a local-first model, ensuring personal context remains on the device unless a specific feature requires external processing.

Behind the project is a team with deep experience in mobile scale; Wang previously grew Baidu’s Facemoji Keyboard to over 300 million daily active users. The company recently secured $5.3 million in seed funding led by BITKRAFT Ventures to further develop its Skills marketplace, where users can share or discover custom AI workflows. While currently free, Acti plans to introduce subscription tiers for advanced models and higher usage limits.