What is Muse? Meta’s personal AI agent, explained
Muse is an AI agent from Meta that plans and carries out tasks for you across the web and the apps you connect, and asks before sensitive steps. Here’s what it does, what it costs, what it can see, and how it differs from Meta AI.
Quick answer
Muse is a personal AI agent made by Meta, launched on September 8, 2026. Unlike a chatbot that answers one message at a time, Muse takes a goal, makes a plan and carries it out: it browses the web from its own cloud computer, uses apps you connect (like email and calendar), and keeps working after you close the app. It asks for your approval before sensitive actions such as sending messages or making purchases. Muse is free with a usage limit, with paid plans at $20 and $100 a month, and is available to adults 18+ in the US and Canada.
About this page
Not testedThis explainer is based on Meta’s official announcements, product page and Help Center, plus verified reporting. It doesn’t include first-hand testing yet; our tested setup walkthrough is in progress. Each claim is labeled; see how we label evidence.
What can Muse do?
Muse can answer questions, complete tasks, browse the web, make purchases, generate images, create documents, and connect to apps and services through what Meta calls Connectors (54 were listed in the app when we checked; see our Muse connectors list). It can also set reminders, track goals and monitor things you care about.2
The difference from a typical AI chatbot is that Muse acts. Meta’s own examples include:1
- turning an Instagram recipe reel into a grocery list and suggesting dinner menus
- remembering dietary restrictions when planning meals
- negotiating a bill or trying to get a better price when selling something
- opening a browser and filling out forms on your behalf
Muse also keeps working in the background. Meta’s example: ask it to watch the daily weather and tell you when rain is coming, and it will do that without you checking in.2 A newer Muse for Small Business adds skills and connectors aimed at small business owners.2
How does Muse work?
Muse is an AI agent that runs on its own private computer in Meta’s cloud and checks with you before it does anything sensitive. You give it a goal in a chat; it plans the steps using Meta’s Muse Spark model; then it works through them in a browser and in the apps you’ve connected.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Muse Spark | The AI model family from Meta Superintelligence Labs that Muse uses to understand requests and plan.19 |
| Muse Secure VM | “A persistent, isolated Linux computer with a full browser” for each user, which you and Muse can both use. You can intervene at any point.2 |
| Sentinel | A separate agent on the same machine that approves connector actions and all network traffic, and asks you when needed.3 |
| Credential store | Keeps your logins where Muse can use them without seeing them.5 |
| Connectors | Opt-in links to apps and services, such as email and calendar, that give Muse new abilities. Added in Settings → Connectors, or by asking Muse.22 |
| Permissions | Your rules for when Muse must ask first. Set in Settings → Permissions.4 |
When Muse is browsing, you can open the browser inside the chat to watch it, take control of the browser to pause it, or stop the task entirely.5 For a step-by-step walkthrough of approvals and permission levels, see how Muse works.
Is Muse the same as Meta AI?
No. Muse and Meta AI are separate products, but both run on Meta’s Muse Spark models. Meta AI is the assistant built into Meta’s apps. Muse is a standalone agent with its own app and its own cloud computer. The line blurred in July 2026, when Meta gave Meta AI some agentic abilities of its own.8
| Muse | Meta AI | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Personal AI agent1 | AI assistant across Meta’s apps8 |
| Where you use it | Muse app (iPhone, Android, Mac), muse.ai, WhatsApp2 | Meta AI app, meta.ai, and Meta’s apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger89 |
| Model | Muse Spark1 | Muse Spark (version 1.1 as of July 2026)8 |
| Takes actions for you | Yes; it’s the core purpose: browsing, forms, purchases, connected apps2 | Yes, since July 24, 2026 in select markets: plans, email and calendar connections, tasks8 |
| Own cloud computer and browser | Yes (Muse Secure VM)2 | Not described by Meta |
| Keeps working after you close the app | Yes2 | Not stated by Meta |
In short: if you want quick answers inside WhatsApp or Instagram, that’s Meta AI. If you want something to take on an ongoing job, like tracking prices, handling email or running errands online, that’s what Muse is built for. The full side-by-side is in Muse vs Meta AI.
Muse, Muse Spark, Muse Code: which “Muse” is which?
Meta uses the Muse name for several things, and other companies use it too. Here’s how to tell them apart:
| Name | From | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Muse | Meta | The personal AI agent this page is about |
| Muse Spark | Meta Superintelligence Labs | The AI model family behind Muse and Meta AI, first released in April 20269 |
| Muse Image | Meta Superintelligence Labs | An image-generation model launched in Meta AI on July 7, 202621 |
| Muse for Small Business | Meta | Extra skills and connectors inside Muse for small business owners, launched September 29, 202623 |
| Muse Code | Meta | A separate AI coding agent for software developers, announced August 5, 202619 |
| Muse (Microsoft) | Microsoft | An unrelated generative AI model for video game ideas, from February 202520 |
Where can you use Muse?
Muse works on iPhone, Android, the web at muse.ai, inside WhatsApp, and on the Mac.12 The Mac app arrived in mid-September 2026 and lets Muse work inside native apps like Mail, Calendar, Messages and Notes, with access on an opt-in basis.11
- Countries
- United States (since launch on September 8, 2026) and Canada (added September 18, 2026).11223
- Age
- 18 or older (or the age of majority where you live).7
- Account
- A Meta account, which can be created with Facebook, Instagram, an email address or a phone number.7
If you’re outside the supported countries, Muse isn’t officially available to you yet. Meta hasn’t published dates for other countries.
Is Muse free?
Yes, Muse has a free tier with a usage limit. When you hit the limit, you can upgrade to a paid plan or wait for your free usage to refresh.2
| Plan | Price | Usage allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited; Meta’s Help Center doesn’t state the size |
| Power | $20/month | 500 million Muse tokens per week |
| Maximum | $100/month | 3 billion Muse tokens per week |
Two caveats. First, Meta doesn’t explain how many tasks a “Muse token” allowance covers, so it’s hard to predict which plan you need until you’ve used Muse for a while. Second, free-allowance figures circulating online aren’t confirmed on Meta’s Help Center. Paid plans renew monthly and are bought through the Muse app or muse.ai.7 Upgrading, canceling, refunds and how Muse plans differ from Meta One are covered in our Muse pricing guide.
Is Muse safe? What it can see
Meta describes several layers of protection around Muse, but Muse can still act on your behalf in ways you might not expect, so your settings matter. Here’s what Meta says, and what others have reported.
What Meta says it built
- Each user’s Muse runs on its own isolated computer, so no one else’s agent can reach it.1
- A separate Sentinel agent approves every action that leaves that computer.3
- Muse asks before sending messages, making purchases, or sharing information with a connected app. You can choose Allow once, Allow for this task, Allow for this site, Always allow or Deny.4 TestedIn our test, an email approval prompt offered “Allow”, “Always allow for this recipient” and “Deny”, and Deny stopped the email. See the prompt.
- Logins go into a secure credential store Muse can’t read. When shopping, a one-time card number is generated at checkout so neither the merchant nor Muse sees your real card, and eligible purchases get Link’s purchase protections.2
- Your Muse conversations and the data in your virtual machine aren’t shared with Meta’s ad systems.6
- A full activity history shows what Muse has done and plans to do.2
Two points worth knowing: using your conversations to train Meta’s AI is switched on by default (you can turn it off in Settings → Data controls),6 and the “Muse Confidential VM”, designed to keep your data private even from Meta, is only Announced for later in 2026.3
What users and reporters have raised
- User reportA Toronto-based tech YouTuber who let Muse handle his Facebook Marketplace listings said it gave a buyer his building’s address, accepted a price below his asking price, and replied “Yep I’m here!” when he wasn’t, all before telling him. He says this happened despite the parameters he had agreed with Muse. A Meta engineering vice president replied publicly that the Muse team would look into it.16
- ReportedAn Inc. columnist wrote that he declined to give Muse access to his messages during setup, yet the Mac app later drew on his Messages history. A Meta engineering leader replied that a required setting had likely been turned on; the columnist disputes that.17
- ReportedTwo security flaws surfaced in September: a Mac app flaw disclosed by researcher Patrick Wardle and hot-fixed a day later, and a vulnerability reported through Meta’s bug bounty that could have exposed a user’s virtual machine. After the second, Meta added a clearer safety warning in the app.2425
Neither report says exactly which permission settings were in use. Our view: until you’ve seen how Muse behaves with your accounts, the stricter “Always ask” setting for connectors is the cautious choice, and connecting fewer apps limits what can go wrong. For the full picture, including what Meta itself admits and a checklist of settings, read Is Muse safe?
What Muse can’t do (yet)
- Some sites block it. ReportedAmazon says access by Muse violates its Conditions of Use and has blocked it.13
- Usage is capped. Every plan, including the $100 one, has a weekly allowance.7
- It’s only in a few countries. See Where can you use Muse?
Meta has also Announced several things that weren’t available when we checked:1018
- Muse on Meta’s AI glasses, activated hands-free
- a voice mode for longer spoken conversations
- an email address for your Muse, so you can forward it messages
- Muse Charm, a small pocket device with real-time voice
- an Expedia connector, plus Shop Pay and 1Password support
- Muse Confidential VM
Before you start: four settings worth checking
- Decide about AI trainingTraining on your Muse conversations is on by default. To turn it off, go to Settings → Data controls.6 Engadget reports the option is labeled “Help improve our AI models”.15
- Choose how often Muse asksIn Settings → Permissions, both connector and web-access defaults can be set to “Always ask” or “Ask for some actions”. On our account both were on “Ask for some actions”.4 The exact wording of each option is in Is Muse safe?
- Connect only what you needMuse works without any connectors, just with fewer abilities. Add them one at a time in Settings → Connectors.22
- Start with low-risk tasksThat’s Meta’s own advice.4 Research and planning tasks are a safer first step than anything involving payments or messages to other people.
Muse timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | Meta introduces Muse Spark, the first model in its Muse series9 |
| July 7, 2026 | Muse Image launches in Meta AI21 |
| July 24, 2026 | Meta AI gets agentic features, powered by Muse Spark 1.18 |
| August 5, 2026 | Muse Code, Meta’s coding agent for developers, is announced19 |
| September 8, 2026 | Muse launches in the US on iPhone, Android, web and WhatsApp1 |
| Mid-September 2026 | Muse app for Mac is released11 |
| September 18, 2026 | Muse becomes available in Canada1223 |
| September 22, 2026 | Amazon’s blocking of Muse is reported13 |
| September 25, 2026 | Meta adds a clearer in-app safety warning after a reported vulnerability24 |
| September 29, 2026 | Meta launches Muse for Small Business with 15 business connectors23 |
| September 2026 | At Connect 2026, Meta announces glasses support, new connectors and Muse Charm10 |
Sources
- Introducing Muse Meta Newsroom · Sept 8, 2026
- Muse: Meta’s personal AI agent (product page and FAQ) Meta · checked Sept 29, 2026
- How we built safety into Muse Meta AI Research · Sept 8, 2026
- How Muse works with your guidance and approval Meta Help Center
- How your Muse agent browses the web Meta Help Center
- How Muse handles your privacy, safety and security Meta Help Center
- About Muse subscriptions Meta Help Center
- Meta AI doesn’t just think, it acts Meta Newsroom · July 24, 2026
- Introducing Muse Spark Meta Newsroom · April 2026
- The biggest news from Connect 2026 Meta Newsroom · Sept 2026
- Meta’s Muse hits Mac TechCrunch · Sept 18, 2026
- Meta’s Muse AI agent is now available in Canada iPhone in Canada · Sept 18, 2026
- Meta’s Muse AI is exploding in popularity and drawing backlash Fortune · Sept 22, 2026
- Meta debuts its Muse AI agent TechCrunch · Sept 8, 2026
- How to get started with Meta’s new AI agent, Muse Engadget · Sept 12, 2026
- Man says Meta’s AI agent Muse shared his address… Moneywise via Yahoo Finance · Sept 28, 2026 · user report
- Meta’s new Muse AI agent read my private messages Inc. · Sept 19, 2026
- Everything new coming to Meta’s AI agent Muse TechCrunch · Sept 23, 2026
- Meta launches Muse Code TechCrunch · Aug 5, 2026
- Introducing Muse (Microsoft Research) Microsoft · Feb 2025
- Introducing Muse Image Meta Newsroom · July 7, 2026
- How Muse works with Connectors Meta Help Center
- Muse for Small Business Meta Newsroom · Sept 29, 2026
- Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after security vulnerability found Reuters, via Yahoo Tech · Sept 25, 2026
- Meta hot-fixes Muse zero-day Unite.AI · Sept 22, 2026
Last fact-check: 2026-09-30. Prices, availability and connectors change often. We re-check this page weekly while Muse is new. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meta’s Muse any good?
It’s too early for a fair verdict. Muse launched on September 8, 2026, and it reached the top of Apple’s US free-app chart within two weeks.13 Meta’s design puts approvals and an isolated cloud computer at the center, but reporters and users have also described Muse acting in ways they didn’t expect (see Is Muse safe?). We’re testing Muse on our own account and will publish a full review only once that testing is complete.
Is the Muse app legitimate?
Yes. Muse is made by Meta. The official web address is muse.ai, and the mobile and Mac apps are published by Meta. Be wary of third-party sites offering Muse “invite codes”, APK downloads, or anything that asks for your Meta login.
Do I need a Facebook or Instagram account to use Muse?
No. You need a Meta account, but Meta says it can be created with an email address or phone number as well as with Facebook or Instagram. You must be 18 or older.7
Is there a Muse invite code or waitlist?
There’s no waitlist, and you don’t need a code to join. Invite codes are a referral bonus: the app says both people get 1 billion Muse tokens when a new user redeems a code in Settings within 48 hours of joining. We checked this in the app on September 30, 2026. See how Muse invite codes work, and never give a code site your Meta login.
Can Muse create images?
Yes, according to Meta: its Muse product page lists generating images and creating documents among Muse’s abilities.2 We haven’t tested image generation yet.