Meta has launched Muse, a new personal AI agent designed to do more than answer questions. The company says Muse can handle everyday tasks on a user’s behalf, including sending emails, planning trips, managing schedules, shopping online and making payments.
The launch marks a major step in Meta’s push towards AI agents that can act independently instead of simply responding to instructions. The idea is to give users an AI assistant that can understand a goal and then take several steps to complete it.
Muse is initially available in the United States through a dedicated app and WhatsApp. Meta plans to expand the service and add more capabilities over time.
Unlike a traditional chatbot, Muse can interact with other applications and online services. A user could ask it to organise a trip, for example, and the agent could work through calendars, travel services and other connected apps to complete the task.
It can also draft and send emails, fill out forms, manage projects, list items for sale and help with shopping. The system can even complete purchases and make payments when the user gives it permission.
That ability is one of the biggest differences between a normal AI chatbot and an agentic AI system. A chatbot generally waits for a question and provides an answer. An AI agent is designed to take action after understanding what the user wants.
Meta is positioning Muse as a personal assistant that can work across different parts of a person’s digital life. It can connect with services related to email, calendars, shopping, finance, health and fitness, smart-home devices and other applications.
The company says users remain in control of which services Muse can access. Permission controls are built into the system, allowing people to decide what information and applications the AI can use.
Security is a major focus because Muse needs access to sensitive information to perform many of its tasks. Meta says the agent operates through a secure virtual machine, separating its activity from the user’s main device.
The system also has a separate safety mechanism designed to monitor what the AI is doing. This is particularly important when Muse is performing actions such as sending messages or making purchases.
Payments are another area where Meta is taking additional precautions. The company says transactions require user approval, meaning Muse is not supposed to independently spend money without permission.
The launch comes as technology companies increasingly compete to build personal AI assistants capable of carrying out real-world tasks.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has described the company’s long-term goal as creating “personal superintelligence” — AI systems that can become highly useful companions in people’s daily lives.
Muse is part of that larger strategy. Meta wants its AI products to move beyond simple conversations and become tools that can help people manage work, communication, shopping and personal activities.
The company also has an advantage that many AI rivals do not: a huge network of widely used platforms. WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook already have billions of users, giving Meta multiple ways to bring AI services to consumers.
WhatsApp is particularly important because people already use it for conversations, businesses and everyday coordination. Bringing an AI agent into that environment could make it easier for users to ask Muse to perform tasks without opening several different apps.
Meta is also looking at bringing its AI capabilities to smart glasses in the future. That could allow users to interact with an AI assistant through wearable devices rather than relying only on a phone or computer.
However, the launch also raises questions about how much control users should give an AI agent.
An assistant that can read emails, access calendars, browse shopping sites and make payments has access to far more personal information than a basic chatbot. A mistake by the AI could therefore have more serious consequences.
Meta has faced questions around privacy and AI safety in the past, making trust an important part of Muse’s rollout. The company has said it delayed the launch while working on security and reliability issues.
Internal testing had reportedly exposed problems ranging from inconsistent performance to potential privacy and security risks. Meta says it has since strengthened the system and launched Muse only after meeting its required safety standards.
Reliability will be another major test. People may be comfortable asking an AI to suggest a restaurant or write an email, but they may be less willing to let it book an expensive holiday or make a financial transaction without close supervision.
The company is therefore entering a market where convenience and trust will have to grow together.
Meta has introduced both free and paid options for Muse. The paid plans are aimed at users who want greater access to the service and more extensive AI capabilities.
The move also reflects the changing economics of the artificial intelligence industry. Technology companies are searching for ways to turn AI into products that people will use regularly, rather than relying only on advertising or basic chatbot services.
Muse could eventually become part of a much broader digital assistant ecosystem covering communication, shopping, travel, work, health and home management.
The technology is still in its early stages, and its success will depend on whether people are comfortable allowing an AI system to act on their behalf.
Meta’s latest launch shows where the next phase of consumer AI may be heading: away from systems that simply answer questions and towards AI agents that can actually get things done.