Meta Launches Personal AI Agent Muse

Meta has introduced a new personal artificial intelligence agent, Muse, aimed at assisting users with daily tasks. This launch comes after a significant settlement related to social media addiction.

Muse is capable of independently handling various tasks such as sending emails, booking travel, selling a car, and even negotiating bills. It is based on the open-source AI agent OpenClaw and is said to integrate with users’ apps in different categories, including email, calendar, payments, health, shopping, and smart home devices. Users have the option to choose which apps Muse can access and can revoke this access whenever they wish.

Each Muse operates on its own cloud-based virtual machine, enabling it to continue executing tasks in the background, even when not actively in use. Users simply need to inform Muse of their goals, and it will develop a personalized plan to assist them, opening browsers, filling out forms, and managing tasks autonomously.

According to Meta, Muse’s functionality allows it to persist with longer tasks even after the app is closed. It can prompt users for approval when necessary, such as before sending an email or confirming a purchase.

Muse also has the ability to remember users’ preferences. This means it can make unsolicited suggestions and act on information that may have been shared only once. For instance, if a user saves a recipe from Instagram, Muse can create a grocery list from it and suggest a dinner menu while factoring in dietary restrictions noted from previous events.

While syncing the agent with various apps enhances its utility, it also poses potential safety and reliability concerns, particularly since users may grant Muse access to sensitive personal data. Vishal Shah, Meta’s VP of AI products, mentioned that the company had postponed the product’s launch initially planned for April to address security issues adequately. The revisions aimed to ensure that the product met necessary safety, privacy, and performance standards.

Shah acknowledged that while mistakes might occur, every aspect of Muse’s design prioritizes security and privacy. Later this year, Meta is expected to roll out the Muse Confidential VM, which will encrypt user data and communications, ensuring that only the user can access it.

Initially, Muse will be available only in the U.S. through a standalone app or via Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service. The company also hinted at plans to integrate Muse with its smart glasses in the near future.