Meta has launched Muse, a new personal AI agent designed to assist users with a variety of daily tasks by integrating with their apps and services. Muse connects to email, calendars, payments, health apps, smart home devices, shopping, music, and social events to perform actions such as sending emails, booking travel, managing bills, and making purchases through Stripe-powered checkout protections. Available initially in the U.S. via web, iOS, Android, and WhatsApp—with plans for integration in Meta’s AI glasses—Muse aims to progress beyond simple chatbot interactions to becoming an AI that actively handles tasks on behalf of users.

Powered by Meta’s Muse Spark AI model, the agent can connect to apps using built-in connectors or public APIs, and can even access services through browsers when APIs are unavailable. Muse operates within a secure virtual machine environment called Muse Secure VM, which isolates user data and prevents access to sensitive information like passwords and payment methods. Meta assures users that data handled by Muse will remain separate from the company’s ad systems, and the AI is designed to learn from user interactions to provide unprompted suggestions while maintaining user control over app permissions.

Despite these security claims and customization options for user experience, Meta faces skepticism due to its troubled privacy history. The company is still recovering from several major controversies, including a record $5 billion FTC penalty in 2019, ongoing lawsuits over social media harms to children, and the notorious Cambridge Analytica scandal. These incidents, coupled with repeated congressional scrutiny over privacy and data protection failures, challenge consumer trust just as Meta is asking users to grant Muse deeper access to personal and private information than ever before.

Meta is positioning Muse as a major step in the evolving AI agent landscape, competing with offerings from both established tech players and startups exploring agent-driven utility. The company hopes that Muse’s feature-rich capabilities, transparent app connections, and personalized touch points will encourage users to adopt the new AI despite lingering doubts. However, with paid subscription tiers beginning at $20 per month and the requirement of a payment card for signup, the success of Muse ultimately hinges on whether Meta can convince consumers to entrust it with more intimate details of their lives.