Why in News?
Meta has introduced Muse, a personal AI agent designed to do more than answer questions. It can take on tasks, help users manage projects, turn long-term goals into action plans and make suggestions based on their needs. Muse is powered by Muse Spark, described by Meta as its most capable AI model to date for real-world agentic work.
What is Muse?
Muse is designed to work like a personal digital assistant that can take action on a user's behalf.
It can:
- Send emails and book travel
- Open a browser and fill out forms
- Help users plan and manage long-term goals
- Coordinate time and resources
- Continue working on tasks even after the user closes the app
- Return for approval when an action requires the user's permission
- Remember information that matters to the user and make suggestions accordingly
Muse can be accessed through the Muse app and directly through WhatsApp.
How Does Muse Work?
- Muse runs on Muse Secure VM, a dedicated virtual machine that houses the AI agent and a user's data.
- Once a user gives Muse a goal, it can develop a personalised plan and work on the task independently. For sensitive actions, such as sending an email or making a purchase, Muse asks for the user's approval.
- For online purchases, Muse can use Link by Stripe, including a one-time-use card that keeps the user's actual card details hidden.
Safety and Privacy
Meta has built several safety and privacy features into Muse:
- Muse runs on a dedicated computer in the cloud, separated from other agents.
- A separate Sentinel agent monitors internet access and approves actions when required.
- Muse does not have direct visibility into users' passwords or payment details.
- Users decide which apps Muse can access and what permissions it receives.
- Users can change permissions or disconnect services at any time.
- Muse provides an audit trail of actions it has taken and plans to take.
- Users can ask Muse to forget specific information it has learned.
- Conversations and data stored in the user's VM are not shared with Meta's advertising systems.
- Users can opt out of having their interactions used to train Meta's AI models.
Meta also plans to introduce Muse Confidential VM later this year, where the entire virtual machine, including user data and conversations, will be encrypted using a key held only by the user.
Availability
- Muse is rolling out in the US on iOS, Android and muse.ai, with support for AI glasses planned soon.
- It will be available for free for most everyday needs, while subscription plans will be offered for users who want additional capabilities.
