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Meta has unveiled Muse, a new personal artificial intelligence agent designed to move beyond answering questions and actually perform tasks on behalf of users.
The company announced Muse on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, describing it as a major step toward its vision of personal AI that can manage everyday tasks, pursue longer-term goals and work across the digital services people use regularly.
Unlike conventional AI chatbots that mainly provide information or instructions, Muse is designed to take action. Users can ask the agent to send emails, book travel, fill out online forms, conduct research, shop online and work on projects that may take hours or longer to complete.
According to Meta, Muse can continue working even after a user closes the application and return when circumstances change or when it requires approval for an important action. It can also develop personalised plans based on a user’s goals and preferences.
Muse Can Shop and Handle Online Tasks
One of the most significant capabilities of Muse is its ability to interact with online services through a dedicated virtual computer.
The AI can open a browser, fill out forms and carry out tasks on behalf of users. For purchases, Meta says Muse can use Link by Stripe to complete checkout while keeping users’ actual card details hidden through a one-time-use virtual card.
Meta says users remain in control of the agent and must approve sensitive actions such as sending emails and making purchases. The system also provides an audit trail showing what Muse has done and what it plans to do.
Meta Focuses on Privacy and Security
The launch also puts privacy and security at the centre of Meta’s pitch.
Muse operates inside what the company calls Muse Secure VM, a dedicated cloud-based virtual machine that houses the AI agent and the user’s connected data.
Meta says a separate security system called Sentinel monitors Muse’s activities and prevents the agent from accessing the internet unless the action is approved. Users can also decide which applications and services Muse can access and can revoke those permissions at any time.
Meta further says Muse’s conversations and data stored within its secure environment are not shared with the company’s advertising systems. Users can also opt out of having their interactions used to train Meta’s AI models.
The company plans to introduce an additional Confidential VM later this year that will encrypt the entire virtual environment using a key controlled by the user.
Muse Raises Questions About Trust
Despite Meta’s security measures, the launch comes amid wider concerns about the risks of giving AI agents access to personal accounts, financial services and other sensitive information.
Reuters reported that internal testing of Muse had uncovered security and reliability issues, highlighting the challenges involved in developing AI systems capable of independently interacting with other applications and services. Meta delayed an earlier planned launch while it worked on security improvements.
The concerns illustrate the difficult balance facing the AI industry: the more capable an AI agent becomes, the greater the amount of access it may require to a user’s personal digital life.
Initially Available in the US
Muse is initially rolling out in the United States through iOS, Android and the web, with access also available through WhatsApp. Meta says the technology will eventually be brought to its AI-powered smart glasses.
The service will have a free tier, while Meta is also offering paid subscription plans for users who require greater usage. Reports indicate the launch includes a $20-per-month Power plan and a $100-per-month Maximum plan.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has positioned Muse as part of the company’s broader push toward what he calls “personal superintelligence”—AI capable of becoming a more active partner in people’s daily lives.
The launch signals a broader shift in the technology industry from AI systems that simply answer questions to agentic AI that can independently perform tasks.
For users, that could mean delegating everything from travel bookings and shopping to email management and online research. But the success of Muse may ultimately depend on whether people are willing to give an AI agent enough access to their personal lives to make that convenience worthwhile.
