Meta says its Muse AI agent can do things for you. I put it to the test

Key Points:

• Meta’s Muse app, launched on September 8, is an AI assistant designed to handle complex tasks like scheduling, emailing, and planning, and has been downloaded over 2.5 million times, becoming the most popular free app on the iPhone App Store.
• Muse offers a guided user experience with features including a chat interface, customizable feed, goal tracking, and file management, and can perform web browsing tasks through a virtual cloud computer to assist with activities like packing schedules and trip planning.
• While Muse demonstrates strengths in planning and task management, it has limitations such as outdated information, inability to directly message sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, and restrictions imposed by some retailers that require manual input during purchases.
• Privacy and trust remain significant concerns for users, especially given Meta’s past controversies, with analysts and experts emphasizing the need for strong safeguards as AI agents require access to sensitive personal data to function effectively.
• Despite Muse’s early success, other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini remain more widely used in the U.S., with consumer skepticism about AI’s societal impact and corporate benefits influencing adoption rates.