Meta has announced Muse, an artificial intelligence agent designed to function as a personal digital assistant. The AI agent can autonomously use apps and websites to complete tasks on behalf of users.
Muse represents one of the first mass-market AI agents introduced by a major technology company. Unlike traditional chatbots, AI agents are designed to take action and complete tasks independently. Many can already handle workplace activities such as updating spreadsheets, although tools such as OpenClaw remain more popular among developers than everyday consumers.
Users can interact with Muse through natural-language conversations and ask it to send emails, book travel, or make online purchases. The Meta AI agent is available through its app and WhatsApp, and can connect with Meta platforms including Instagram and Facebook to personalize its responses. Users can also link third-party services such as Spotify, Ticketmaster, Shopify, Gmail, and OpenTable.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg described Muse as a major step forward for the company. He said the AI assistant is designed to work on behalf of users around the clock, helping them achieve goals and manage areas such as their health, relationships, finances, and daily routines.
Muse is one of the first major consumer AI products developed by Meta Superintelligence Labs, which Zuckerberg founded last year to strengthen Meta’s position in the global AI race. Meta has invested billions of dollars in foundational AI models and data centers as it competes with Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Meta’s AI efforts have produced mixed results. The company’s AI-powered smart glasses have sold millions of units, but they have also raised privacy concerns. Meta temporarily suspended its Instagram AI image generator in July after criticism related to copyright and data privacy.
The Muse app is free to download, although usage is limited. Users can pay $20 or $100 per month for higher usage limits. The AI agent is intended for adults, and users can personalize it with a custom name and avatar.
After users connect services such as OpenTable or Ticketmaster, Muse can send alerts about restaurant reservations and upcoming concerts. Users can then complete eligible bookings or purchases with a single click. Integration with Stripe and Shopify also allows Muse to buy products on a user’s behalf. Meta said Muse is the first AI agent covered by Stripe’s warranty and return policy when a purchase error occurs.
Meta acknowledges that Muse may sometimes make mistakes. The company says the agent is designed to help users stay in control without becoming overwhelmed. A Silicon Valley company has also created a program that allows users to report Muse bugs and receive rewards. Meta said data collected by Muse, as well as information generated by the AI agents, is securely stored on cloud servers and hardware.
The Meta AI agent is powered by Muse Spark, an artificial intelligence model released by Meta in April. The model was initially developed last summer under Alexander Wang, Meta’s 29-year-old chief AI officer, whom Zuckerberg hired to help strengthen the company’s AI division.
Muse Spark currently trails leading AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI, but Meta plans to release a more powerful internal model, reportedly code-named Watermelon, as early as next month.
Meta plans to expand Muse with additional features in the coming months. Planned updates include integration with Meta’s smart glasses, which combine cameras with voice-assistant capabilities and could make the AI agent more useful in everyday situations.
Source: www.nytimes.com