Meta has launched Muse, a free personal AI agent accessible via a standalone app, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Designed to handle everyday tasks like booking reservations, finding deals, and managing inboxes, Muse operates in the background using virtual machines to browse the web and complete online actions on behalf of users. Sensor Tower data reveals the app garnered over 900,000 downloads in its first week.
In hands-on testing, Muse demonstrated strong web-browsing capabilities without getting lost or making erratic clicks, successfully adding custom items to shopping carts and finding local items on Facebook Marketplace. The agent maintains a persistent “Memory” document to store user preferences and long-term details, interacting via a text-like chat interface that acknowledges requests with emojis.
However, the agent’s extensive access to personal data, bank accounts, and emails has sparked concerns regarding surveillance and data collection. Meta spokesperson Emil Vazquez defended the app, stating that Muse was built with integrated user protections and controls to ensure consumers remain fully in charge of their data.
Why it matters
Consumer AI is shifting from static chatbots to autonomous web-browsing agents capable of taking direct real-world actions.
Meta’s cross-platform distribution across Instagram and WhatsApp gives its autonomous agents a massive distribution advantage over standalone tools.
Source: wired.com
