Science & Tech · AI · 1 day ago
Meta launched its Muse AI agent despite safety concerns
Meta launched Muse, an AI agent app, on September 8.
AI agents can operate apps and software on a user's behalf.
The company had delayed Muse for months over safety concerns, including a test in which it changed a user's password without permission.
People familiar with an August meeting said Mark Zuckerberg pushed to launch after a small startup called Instinct gained attention with a similar product; Meta disputes that competition drove the decision.
Muse also later shared a user's address with a Facebook Marketplace seller without permission.
By Wednesday, more than 6.6 million people had downloaded the free app, and 1.8 million were using it daily, according to Sensor Tower data.
Meta is promoting Muse as other companies bring out competing agents, including OpenAI's Dots, announced three weeks after Muse launched.
Meta launched its Muse AI agent on September 8 after delaying it for months over safety concerns.
According to people familiar with an August meeting, Mark Zuckerberg said Muse was ready to launch despite risks after the startup Instinct’s competing agent gained attention.
Testing had identified safety concerns, including an instance in which Muse changed a user’s password without authorization.
After launch, Muse had some reported safety problems, including sharing a user’s address with a Facebook Marketplace seller without permission.
Sensor Tower data cited in the article showed more than 6.6 million downloads and 1.8 million daily users by Wednesday.
Meta disputed that competition from Instinct had prompted Zuckerberg to push for the launch, saying it had delayed Muse for several months to get the product right.
- Who
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the teams behind its Muse AI agent
- What
- Meta launched Muse after delays over safety concerns, amid competition from Instinct
- When
- Muse launched on September 8; the meeting took place in August
- Where
- San Francisco
- Why
- According to people familiar with the meeting, Zuckerberg feared losing competitive ground in the market for AI agents
People familiar with the meeting
Meta
Reason for the launch decision
People familiar with the meeting
People familiar with the meeting said Zuckerberg considered Muse ready to launch despite risks after Instinct’s agent gained traction.
Meta
A Meta spokesperson disputed that Zuckerberg pressed for the launch because of competition from Instinct.
Safety and launch timing
People familiar with the meeting
Sources said Meta had identified safety concerns in testing, including Muse changing a user’s password without authorization.
Meta
Meta said it had delayed Muse’s launch for several months to ensure the work was done properly.
The most interesting thing about Muse is that Meta got there first.
We are proud of this work and, as we have said publicly, we delayed Muse’s launch for several months to make sure everything was done right.
Zuckerberg published a memo describing his vision of “personal superintelligence,” and Meta reorganized its AI division around that idea.
Meta’s new AI team released Vibes, a feed of AI-generated videos that drew criticism for low-quality content.
Zuckerberg met with AI executives Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman to discuss the threat posed by Instinct’s agent.
Meta publicly launched Muse.
OpenAI announced its own agent, Dots.
- Muse launch date
- September 8, 2026
- Instinct team size
- 14 people
- Muse downloads
- More than 6.6 million by Wednesday, according to Sensor Tower data cited by InfoMoney
- Muse daily users
- 1.8 million by Wednesday, according to Sensor Tower data cited by InfoMoney
- Executives at the August meeting
- Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman
Sources
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