Meta bets on AI agent Muse to catch up in AI race

Meta is making another push to bring artificial intelligence to the masses with Muse, a personal assistant it says can put AI in the hands of virtually anyone. The product is the latest step in a multi-billion dollar strategy overhaul designed to revitalize the company's ailing position in the AI race and help it catch up to rivals like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Features and Capabilities

Muse is a “personal AI agent” designed to help out with everyday tasks and projects, like online shopping, sending emails, and planning a trip. Once given a goal, Meta says Muse can work on its own, opening a browser, filling out forms, and even negotiating on users’ behalf. For lengthy tasks, Meta says Muse will continue working in the background after users close the app, returning to users if something changes or if it requires approval for something, such as making a purchase.

Rollout and Pricing

Muse will roll out in the US on iOS, Android, and muse.ai, with AI glasses “coming soon.” The assistant will be free for most users, though Meta said there will be paid subscriptions “for people who want to do more.” The company did not specify the nature and costs of these paid plans, nor outline what limits there are for free users. “Muse is a first step: an agent that takes on more of the work so people can focus on what matters to them,” Meta said.

The Competitive Landscape

While Meta is pitching Muse as “the world’s first personal AI agent built for everyone,” the product is, in fact,