Meta on Tuesday launched a personal artificial intelligence agent called Muse, aimed at people 18 and over who want help with day-to-day tasks such as schedules, shopping, and, in the company's words, turning "long-term goals into action." The launch marks Meta's biggest push yet into AI agents that can independently complete real-world tasks rather than simply respond to prompts.
Muse can handle simple tasks like sending an email or booking travel, as well as larger, long-term goals like creating a yearlong exercise plan or setting up a new business. According to Meta, the agent can also lower bills, fill out forms, create plans, turn recipe reels into grocery lists, send party invitations, and make purchases, leveraging its own tools and integrations.
Users can message Muse in a separate app, also called Muse, or through WhatsApp. The agent is for now only available in the U.S.
Secure architecture and background operation
Muse runs on what Meta calls a Muse Secure VM, a dedicated virtual machine that houses both the AI agent and the user's data, complete with its own built-in browser. This setup allows the agent to continue working in the background even when the user is not actively using it, according to the company.
A separate Sentinel agent monitors internet access and must approve actions when required, Meta said. Users can see a complete audit trail of what Muse has done and what it plans to do, providing transparency into its activities.
Vishal Shah, vice president of AI products at Meta, said: "It is impossible to say that there is never going to be a mistake, but every single part of the architecture has been designed to make this as safe, as secure, as private as we can possibly make it."
Meta executives, including Shah, described the architecture as designed to minimize errors while acknowledging that no system can guarantee perfection.
Availability, pricing, and positioning
Muse is free for most uses, with subscription plans available for users who want to do more with the agent, according to Meta. The company introduced a usage meter that warns users when free usage runs out.
Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has positioned Muse as a step toward what he calls "personal superintelligence." In a statement, Zuckerberg highlighted that users remain in control, saying: "You're in control."
The release comes during a critical period for Meta, which is under scrutiny for privacy and consumer trust issues, including a recent $18 billion settlement related to data privacy.