Meta’s new artificial intelligence assistant Muse has climbed to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store, reaching No. 1 among free apps just a week after its launch and surpassing ChatGPT.
The rapid rise is an early indicator of growing consumer interest in AI agents that go beyond answering questions and generating text. Unlike traditional chatbots, agents are designed to take actions on users’ behalf and complete multi-step tasks.
Meta says Muse can conduct research, fill out forms, shop online, make restaurant reservations, and find services such as dog sitters. It can also connect with email, calendars, Spotify, Instagram and OpenTable.
The app can remember a user’s preferences and carry out tasks on the user’s behalf, while requiring approval before completing certain sensitive actions.
Early users have reported putting those abilities to practical use. One user said Muse reviewed an auto insurance policy, located equivalent coverage that cost $3,500 less annually, purchased the new policy and canceled the old one. Another reported using Muse to locate a particular jacket, find and apply discount codes, and complete the purchase.
Muse is part of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader effort to develop personalized AI assistants that become increasingly useful in everyday life.
The early success also comes as Meta competes with OpenAI, Anthropic and other companies developing increasingly capable AI systems. Muse faces competition in the emerging personal-agent market from products including Instinct, an invitation-only assistant that has attracted attention in Silicon Valley.
Muse still has limitations. One early user reported that it was unable to summarize an Instagram workout video because it could access only the first frame. AI agents also face broader questions about errors, access to accurate real-time information and the privacy implications of giving software permission to handle personal accounts and sensitive tasks.
Source: Business Insider