Meta’s new AI app, Muse, has quickly risen to become the second most popular app on the U.S. iOS App Store since its launch on September 8, 2026. Within a few days, Muse achieved over 83,000 downloads, marking a notable entry for Meta in the competitive AI assistant market, especially as the app remains available only in the U.S. Despite this strong position, Muse’s debut numbers are modest compared to Meta’s earlier app launches like Threads, which saw over 4.3 million downloads on its first day, and the Meta AI app, which had 108,000 downloads at launch.

The ascent of Muse on iOS contrasts sharply with its reception on Android, where it ranks much lower, at number 338 in Google Play’s Productivity category, with download figures yet to be disclosed. Beyond mobile platforms, Muse is also accessible via the web and WhatsApp, though these channels are not included in the reported download metrics. Meta’s launch of Muse represents a significant strategic move, reflecting its belief that AI agents capable of completing tasks on users’ behalf will shape the future of consumer technology, a shift as impactful as Meta’s earlier pivot towards the metaverse.

Meta faces stiff competition in this emerging AI agent space, where other companies like Google and Anthropic also compete. Among consumer-focused offerings, Muse’s main rival appears to be Instinct, a text-based AI agent recently valued at $2.5 billion. Instinct has gained attention despite concerns over privacy and security, thanks in part to rapid feature rollouts such as custom email addresses, integrations with Stripe and 1Password, and a unique social network concept enabling AI agents to communicate on behalf of their users. These innovations could challenge Meta’s dominance by leveraging a social graph rooted in real-world relationships.

The timing of Muse’s release may have complicated its initial reception; it followed shortly after Meta agreed to an $18 billion settlement related to social media harms. The company’s historical privacy controversies and regulatory fines have also raised trust issues that could affect user adoption. Nevertheless, Muse’s upward momentum on iOS suggests that consumer interest is growing, and it remains an important part of Meta’s broader AI strategy as the company races to define the role of AI agents in everyday life.