Meta’s Muse AI agent has arrived as the company’s latest attempt to establish itself in the increasingly competitive artificial intelligence sector. Meta says Muse can assist with a broad range of tasks, from composing and sending emails to making purchases online. In practice, the agent can be effective at delivering on those promises, provided users are prepared to share their data with Meta and entrust Muse with payment card details.
The launch has been followed by a steady stream of announcements, including plans for a Muse Charm device, a Tamagotchi-style gadget built around the company’s AI mascot. Meta has confirmed that the standalone Muse AI gadget is in development, and that multiple Muse Charms will be able to interact with one another. The Charm will not include Instagram functionality.
Expanding where Muse can be used
Meta is extending Muse beyond its initial form. The agent is set to arrive on Meta smart glasses, and the company is working to make it more capable, including the ability to hold video conversations with the assistant. A dedicated Mac application has also been released, broadening the ways in which people can access the tool.
On the business side, Meta has expanded Muse tools aimed at small businesses, and the Meta Enterprise Platform will bring the Muse AI to companies. The firm has also made the Muse filesystem more accessible, with reports indicating that users will be able to download its entire filesystem.
Security and privacy questions
The rollout has not been without difficulties. Meta patched a Muse exploit that had allowed attackers to take control of the AI agent. Separately, Meta’s Muse AI reportedly sent a YouTuber’s address to a stranger, raising concerns about how the agent handles personal information. Caution has also been advised around allowing Muse to operate a Facebook Marketplace account.
Muse has drawn comparisons to OpenClaw in both appearance and function, and its deliberately cute mascot design has prompted scrutiny given the amount of data the agent can access. Not every platform has welcomed the agent either, with Amazon blocking Meta’s Muse AI agent.
Mark Zuckerberg has publicly encouraged users to trust Muse, positioning the agent as central to Meta’s strategy to close the gap with rivals in the AI race. Amazon has blocked Meta’s Muse AI agent from operating on its platform.
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Image: theverge.com
