Nous Research Adds Hermes Agent to iMessage via Photon Integration

Nous ResearchNous Research

Nous Research has integrated its Hermes Agent with iMessage, allowing users to interact with their autonomous AI agent directly through text messages. This update makes the agent accessible on a widely used personal messaging platform, simplifying engagement without requiring a dedicated application.

Nous Research has integrated its Hermes Agent with iMessage via Photon, a managed service for Apple iMessage line allocation. Users can now text their agent directly, initiating multi-step actions and receiving responses within their standard messaging app. Setup involves running a hermes gateway setup command.
Integration Service
Photon
Setup Command
`hermes gateway setup`
Free Tier
Shared iMessage line pool
Paid Tier
Dedicated iMessage number
Inbound Attachments
Metadata-only
Outbound Attachments
Supported

Bringing autonomous AI agents into widely used communication channels like iMessage expands their accessibility beyond dedicated interfaces. This integration simplifies the user experience by abstracting the complexities of running a Mac relay. It makes sophisticated AI capabilities available where users already communicate.

To start texting your Hermes Agent in iMessage, run hermes gateway setup and choose Photon. The integration offers a free tier with a shared iMessage line pool, and a paid Business tier for a dedicated number. Users can authorize specific phone numbers, enable DM pairing, or configure group chat mention gating.

View the full update on hermes-agent.nousresearch.com

Still wondering? A few quick answers below.

Hermes Agent connects to iMessage through Photon, a managed service that handles the technical requirements for Apple iMessage lines. This service manages line allocation and abuse prevention, removing the need for users to run their own Mac relay.

Yes, Photon offers a free tier that uses a shared iMessage line pool, where different recipients might see varying sending numbers but conversations remain stable. A paid Business tier provides a dedicated iMessage number for consistent communication.

Users need a Photon account, Node.js 18.17 or newer installed, a phone number capable of receiving iMessages, and a publicly reachable URL for the webhook receiver (e.g., via Cloudflare Tunnel or ngrok).

Yes, the integration supports several authorization methods. You can use DM pairing, where Hermes replies with a code for approval, or pre-authorize specific phone numbers using an environment variable. Open access is also available for development purposes.

Inbound attachments are currently metadata-only, meaning the webhook carries the filename and MIME type but no download URL. However, outbound attachments are supported, allowing Hermes to send images, voice notes, video, and documents.

Every HeadsUpAI update is written based on its original source and reviewed before it's published. Read our editorial standards →

Share this update