SMS
Also written: Short Message Service
SMS, or Short Message Service, is the standard text messaging system used on phones.
SMS stands for Short Message Service. It's the technology that lets you send and receive text messages on your phone. Think of it as the basic way phones have communicated with each other using short written messages for many years.
For example, when you text a friend to say you'll be late, you're using SMS. Frontier AI labs are exploring how to integrate AI assistants with these familiar communication methods.
SMS, or Short Message Service, is a telecommunications protocol used to send and receive short text messages between mobile phones. It operates over the cellular network, typically limited to 160 characters per message. SMS is a foundational technology for mobile communication, predating modern data-based messaging apps.
Microsoft Copilot is integrating with SMS to allow users to delegate tasks and receive updates on the go. This highlights a trend of AI assistants becoming more accessible through everyday communication channels, moving beyond dedicated apps.
- Get Tasks Done On the Go: Copilot TasksMicrosoft · Microsoft Copilot on YouTube ·
- Microsoft Copilot
- Microsoft Copilot is exploring ways to interact with users via SMS for task management and notifications.
- MMS
- Multimedia Messaging Service, which allows sending pictures and videos, not
- Instant Messaging
- Real-time chat applications like WhatsApp or Signal that use
SMS was developed in the late 1980s and standardized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The first SMS message was sent in 1992. Source ↗
You can try sending a text message to a friend using your phone. If you have a service that allows SMS integration with an AI, you could try sending a command like 'remind me to call mom at 3 PM' via text to see how it's processed.
The Playbook: reusable how-tos, prompts, configs and tips pulled out of the news.
- ToolMicrosoft Copilot Tasks for delegating work on the goDelegate tasks to Copilot on desktop, mobile, or SMS and return to completed work. · 5 min
- PromptRole-play a student struggling with math for AI tutor simulationSimulate a student's math struggles and uncertainty for AI tutor evaluation. · 5 min
- TemplateReusable workflow templates for healthcare teamsTeams can create and share templates for common workflows like documentation or prior authorizations. · 15 min
- TemplateTemplate for building an AI tool tailored to your workA structured approach to defining and building a custom AI tool for specific business needs. · 15 min
- TemplateEvals CSV prompt list for agent skillsA CSV file template for listing prompts used in evaluating agent skills. · 20 min
Questions people ask
- What is the character limit for SMS?
- Standard SMS messages are limited to 160 characters. Longer messages are broken down into multiple parts.
- Is SMS secure?
- SMS is not encrypted by default, making it less secure than modern messaging apps for sensitive information.
First seen on Subvolts Mar 25, 2026. Updated Sep 15, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.