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Meta's Muse AI Assistant Draws Mixed Reviews

8:05 AM ETConfirmed

Technology Desk

In Short: Meta's new AI assistant, Muse, is drawing both praise and criticism for its capabilities and data collection practices.

Meta is reportedly dropping the camera from its next smart glasses, codenamed Luna, to address concerns over covert filming, according to The Information. Instead, Luna will focus on audio, featuring six microphones and built-in speakers to facilitate interactions with Meta AI and its Muse assistant.

Jason Aten, a contributing editor at Inc Magazine, shared screenshots of an interaction with Muse on Threads, highlighting the assistant's confusion when explaining its features. Aten noted that Muse's incorrect response about syncing device notifications suggests a lack of clarity about its own functionalities.

Meta’s David Singleton responded to Aten’s post, explaining the permissions Muse requires to access messages and apologizing for the incorrect response. Singleton assured that Meta is working to improve Muse’s understanding of its own workings.

Despite these issues, Muse has seen significant downloads, with over 900,000 downloads in its first week, according to Sensor Tower. The app offers a range of services, from ordering breakfast to finding local couches for sale.

However, the app's aggressive data collection practices have raised concerns. Calli Schroeder, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, criticized Meta for not learning from past mistakes and undermining trust in Muse.

Muse’s default avatar, a beige-colored figure resembling an Ewok and Labubu, is designed to be both cute and functional, serving as a gateway for users to upload more data. The app’s ability to connect to various data sources, including email and bank accounts, has made it a powerful tool for personal tasks.

Meta spokesperson Emil Vazquez defended the app, stating that Muse is built with user controls and protections to ensure users are in charge of their data. However, the app’s constant nudges to link more data sources have made some users uncomfortable.

Muse’s virtual machine feature allows it to browse the internet on behalf of users, completing tasks like web searches and online purchases. This feature, while impressive, has also raised privacy concerns.

Meta is positioning Muse as a mainstream AI assistant, similar to competitors like OpenClaw and Instinct. The company plans to introduce a more secure version of the virtual machine later this year, with support for 1Password and Shop Pay.

Despite its ambitious goals, Muse has faced slower adoption compared to other AI apps like ChatGPT, according to WarpBeat reports. Meta is now focusing on rolling out updates and expanding the app’s capabilities to attract more users.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Meta is reportedly dropping the camera from its next smart glasses, codenamed Luna, to address concerns over covert filming, according to The Information. Instead, Luna will focus on audio, featuring six microphones and built-in speakers to facilitate interactions with Meta AI and its Muse assistant.
• Jason Aten, a contributing editor at Inc Magazine, shared screenshots of an interaction with Muse on Threads, highlighting the assistant's confusion when explaining its features. Aten noted that Muse's incorrect response about syncing device notifications suggests a lack of clarity about its own functionalities.
• Meta’s David Singleton responded to Aten’s post, explaining the permissions Muse requires to access messages and apologizing for the incorrect response. Singleton assured that Meta is working to improve Muse’s understanding of its own workings.
• Despite these issues, Muse has seen significant downloads, with over 900,000 downloads in its first week, according to Sensor Tower. The app offers a range of services, from ordering breakfast to finding local couches for sale.
• However, the app's aggressive data collection practices have raised concerns. Calli Schroeder, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, criticized Meta for not learning from past mistakes and undermining trust in Muse.
• Muse’s default avatar, a beige-colored figure resembling an Ewok and Labubu, is designed to be both cute and functional, serving as a gateway for users to upload more data. The app’s ability to connect to various data sources, including email and bank accounts, has made it a powerful tool for personal tasks.
• Meta spokesperson Emil Vazquez defended the app, stating that Muse is built with user controls and protections to ensure users are in charge of their data. However, the app’s constant nudges to link more data sources have made some users uncomfortable.
• Muse’s virtual machine feature allows it to browse the internet on behalf of users, completing tasks like web searches and online purchases. This feature, while impressive, has also raised privacy concerns.
• Meta is positioning Muse as a mainstream AI assistant, similar to competitors like OpenClaw and Instinct. The company plans to introduce a more secure version of the virtual machine later this year, with support for 1Password and Shop Pay.
• Despite its ambitious goals, Muse has faced slower adoption compared to other AI apps like ChatGPT, according to WarpBeat reports. Meta is now focusing on rolling out updates and expanding the app’s capabilities to attract more users.

What's still developing

• Meta may have found the easiest way to make smart glasses less creepy: take out the camera.
• Meta’s next smart glasses could lose the camera OpenAI is footing the bill for more biology data GLP-1s are finding a life beyond weight loss Image source: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty / Images 2.5 The Rundown: Meta is reportedly dropping the camera from its next smart glasses as backlash over covert filming mounts, with an audio-focused pair codenamed Luna due this fall, The Information reports.
• Luna reportedly has slimmer arms than previous Meta glasses and would come in Clubmaster and Burbank styles, bringing it closer to ordinary eyewear.
• He suggests that the issue isn’t Muse illicitly reading Aten’ texts, but simply that Muse has no idea what it’s talking about: In the conversation with his Muse in Jason’s screenshots, when Muse said it synced “device notifications”, it was confused about how to explain the feature and gave an incorrect explanation.
• Meta’s Muse is apparently an effective AI assistant, but one that’s a little creepy.
• But for all its smarts, Muse doesn’t actually know how to describe itself.
• Meta Superintelligence Labs’ David Singleton chimed in below the post to try to explain.
• For example, I asked Muse to order breakfast from a local bakery called Kahnfections.
• Muse quickly found cheap, local couches for sale within my parameters and offered to message sellers to arrange pick-ups.
• The agent is designed to follow up with users, so Muse nudged me the next day to consider getting the couch I said was my favorite.
• Muse stores details about your interactions and preferences in a “Memory” document found by tapping the avatar in the top middle of the screen.
• The day after I said I wanted help saving money for a fancy vacation, Muse offered to “wire your savings tracker to your real balance” if I just tapped a few buttons and linked the data from my checking and savings accounts.

Sources

• Androidauthoritylink
• The Rundown AIlink
• The Vergelink
• WIREDlink
• Warpbeatlink
• The Vergelink
• Petapixellink
• Technologylink
• Fox Businesslink
• Iclarifiedlink
• Techbuzzlink
• TechCrunchlink
• Therundownlink
• Analyticsinsightlink
• Tech-Insiderlink
• WarpBeat — background on Meta's AI Muse Raises Concerns, Late-Night Hosts Faked Online link