English
Meta launched its new AI companion app this week, and it quickly climbed to the top of the Apple App Store charts. The app, called Muse, features a doll-like AI agent designed to help users with everyday tasks. Meta describes Muse as an AI agent “built for everyone,” including people with little or no experience using technology. However, the launch has also drawn privacy concerns from users and tech observers alike.
A Cute Face for a Powerful AI Tool
The default Muse avatar is a cream-colored figure with small black eyes and an upward smile. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg named it “Jolly,” reflecting what he called its “jolly and completely customizable character and personality.” Users can change their agent’s name, appearance and attire to suit their preferences. Zuckerberg’s own Muse agent wears a toga and a laurel wreath and goes by the name Agrippa, after the Roman general and statesman.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Meta introduced Muse at its annual Meta Connect conference in Menlo Park, California. Alexandr Wang, Meta’s chief AI officer, spoke at the event on Wednesday. “It was only about six months ago that having a personal agent running on your own computer was the sign of someone who is completely AI-pilled,” Wang said. “But today with Muse, we’ve brought that magic to everyone.”
Zuckerberg also teased a small handheld accessory called the “Muse charm.” He held the keychain-sized device onstage, describing it as a way to activate the agent while on the go. The charm resembles a cross between a Labubu toy and a Tamagotchi. “Talking to your Muse is often the fastest way to get things done, and it is also just really fun and cute,” he said. He added that he used his own agent, Agrippa, to find a baking recipe and order ingredients for himself and his daughter.
Privacy Concerns Surround the Launch
Muse integrates directly into Meta’s growing range of AI-powered smart glasses. Those glasses have already faced criticism over fears of casual surveillance. Zuckerberg has previously told NBC News that Meta plans to continue strengthening privacy protections for its smart glasses products.
On the data security side, Zuckerberg said each Muse agent runs on a dedicated system called Muse Secure VM. This system stores both the agent and the user’s personal data in a protected environment. He also said Meta plans to release a future version called Muse Confidential VM. He described it as a system where “even Meta won’t be able to see that information.”
Despite these assurances, public reaction online has been mixed. Some users embraced the app and shared custom avatars on social media. Others, however, raised sharp concerns about handing Meta access to personal data. “Am I the only one who doesn’t want to let Meta have access to my whole life?” one user posted. Entrepreneur and angel investor Jason Calacanis also weighed in. “We are going to need some tight defenses and third-party testing of these platforms, like all software products,” he wrote.
Meta’s Broader AI Ambitions
Zuckerberg remains firmly committed to AI development, even as some tech executives and government officials call for slower progress. Concerns about the long-term risks of AI have grown louder in recent months. Nevertheless, Zuckerberg argues that market forces are sufficient to keep AI companies accountable.
He recently shared his position on X, writing: “My view is that trust and alignment are quickly becoming the most important capabilities that will differentiate agents and models. Any lab that doesn’t focus on alignment will fall behind.” He also noted that Meta delayed Muse’s release by several months to focus on safety and security. “We didn’t call for everyone else to do this before we would,” he added.
Looking further ahead, Zuckerberg expressed strong confidence in Muse’s potential. “In the coming years, I expect that Muse is going to grow into the personal superintelligence that billions of people around the world are going to use to accomplish their goals and improve their lives,” he said. Whether users will trust Meta enough to embrace that vision remains, for now, an open question.
