The Rapid Rise of AI: Meta’s Muse Takes Center Stage

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent times has been quite astounding. There’s been a lot of buzz about generative AI, and now we see AI agents that can not only process information but also tackle complicated tasks by breaking them into manageable steps. Big tech firms are leveraging these agents to enhance operations, write code, and refine digital marketing efforts. Interestingly, these AI agents are now beginning to cater to consumers directly.

Missed AI’s “Act 1”? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Many investors feel like they missed the AI opportunity, especially if they didn’t buy Nvidia back in 2005. However, analysts suggest we are just nearing the end of “Act 1,” which is the research and development phase. “Act 2” is all about the global expansion.

Recently, Meta Platforms introduced Muse, which it claims is “the world’s first personal AI agent.” This new tool, built on the Muse Spark Frontier model, isn’t just about answering questions. It can be utilized immediately, without any extra training, to perform tasks like sending emails, planning travels, or making purchases online.

Just a few weeks after its introduction, Muse has captured the spotlight and is growing in popularity faster than ChatGPT did at launch, showing no signs of slowing down.

A Record-Breaking Debut

Muse has achieved the quickest adoption rate since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Within just 12 days of its launch, Muse saw 1.8 million downloads on iOS from the Apple App Store in the U.S. and Canada, as noted by Apptopia. In comparison, ChatGPT garnered 1.3 million downloads in the same timeframe. Factoring in downloads from Alphabet‘s Android App Store, Muse’s total reaches 2.8 million.

This rapid uptake has propelled Muse to the number one position among free iOS apps, nudging ChatGPT down to second place. Notably, Muse has maintained an impressive iOS rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, with over 36,000 reviews as of now. It’s also become the most downloaded free app on Android.

The engagement levels are significant as well. Muse boasted 642,000 daily active users in its first 12 days, compared to 231,000 for ChatGPT during the same period. Meta is leveraging its massive social media presence, which exceeds 3.6 billion users, to promote Muse effectively. Reports indicate that 95% of Muse users are also on Facebook, while 63% are Instagram users.

A Host of High-Profile Partnerships

But it’s not just consumers taking notice; businesses are eager to incorporate Muse into their digital retail and fintech platforms:

• Shopify aims to integrate Muse into its platform, enabling users to browse and purchase products via Shop Pay.
• Digital payments giant PayPal plans to integrate Muse into its network to assist users in locating products and completing transactions securely.
• Expedia has announced its partnership with Muse to facilitate travel planning and arrangements for users.
• Fintech company Stripe, a launch partner for Muse, will merge its Link digital wallet with the AI agent to allow secure payments for transactions.
• Maplebear, parent company of Instacart, will collaborate with Muse to enhance grocery shopping experiences.

These are just some of the partnerships that have emerged recently, and as Muse’s popularity grows, more collaborations are likely to follow.

Time to Buy Meta Stock?

One major query among Meta investors is how the firm plans to monetize its substantial AI investments. The swift adoption of Muse sheds light on this aspect. Beyond its free tier, Muse offers paid subscriptions at $20 and $100 per month.

If merely 1% of Meta’s considerable user base of 3.6 billion were to opt for the $20 subscription—a rather conservative expectation based on its initial success—the company could see over $8.6 billion in additional revenue annually. Should Muse gain further traction, the potential gains could be even larger.

The surge in consumer acceptance alongside the growing roster of business partnerships indicates that Muse could become one of the leading AI applications, which would be highly beneficial for both Meta and its shareholders.

Interestingly, despite all this potential, the stock is remarkably affordable at 28 times earnings—even after its recent surge. This makes Meta a tempting buy.

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