Science & Tech · AI · 1 hr ago
A test of Meta’s Muse assistant left several major vacuum reviewers out
A writer asked Meta’s Muse assistant to recommend a robot vacuum and provide links to buy one.
Muse suggested a small number of models and said it had considered retailer sites and review roundups.
It relied heavily on Vacuum Wars, a site that tests vacuums and earns much of its money from affiliate links.
The answer left out Wirecutter, PCMag and Consumer Reports, which have also published robot vacuum reviews.
The writer suggested that access restrictions or disputes over AI use might explain the omissions, but Muse did not say it had been blocked from any sites.
This single test cannot show how AI shopping assistants work overall, but it raises questions about how they choose sources and what their recommendations mean for publishers.
A Fast Company test found that Meta’s Muse assistant recommended robot vacuums while leaving out several major review sites.
The assistant, which the author named Jones, offered a couple of models and links to buy them.
When asked about its sources, Jones said it had consulted retail sites and review roundups, relying heavily on Vacuum Wars.
Wirecutter, PCMag and Consumer Reports were absent from the recommendations, though the author said the reasons for their absence were an inference.
The author cautioned that this was one test of a new AI app and that no definitive conclusions should be drawn.
- Who
- Fast Company journalist Pete Pachal tested Meta’s Muse assistant, which he named Jones.
- What
- The assistant recommended robot vacuums but did not include Wirecutter, PCMag or Consumer Reports.
- When
- Muse debuted on September 8. The article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The test took place in Meta’s Muse app.
- Why
- The author said the reasons the three review sites were absent were unclear; his suggestions about possible restrictions were an inference.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Meta debuted Muse.
Pachal asked Muse which robot vacuum to buy, and the assistant recommended a couple of models.
Pachal asked why those models were chosen and whether review sites had been consulted; Muse said it had used retail sites and review roundups.
- Assistant
- Meta’s Muse
- Assistant name in test
- Jones
- Recommended options
- A couple of robot vacuum models
- Review site cited heavily
- Vacuum Wars
- Review sites absent
- Wirecutter, PCMag and Consumer Reports
- Article publication
- October 13, 2026
What people are saying
Nothing definitive should be gleaned from this experience.
Sources
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