What is actually happening with Meta's new AI, Muse?

Meta is expanding its Muse AI app with new capabilities, such as allowing the software to operate your computer to finish tasks. Perhaps the most unusual aspect is its design: the assistant is represented by a cute, toy-like mascot named Jolly. Meta is also preparing to launch a small, handheld hardware device—resembling a digital pet toy—that will allow you to carry your AI assistant with you. The company has clarified that this system is intended to act as a private virtual machine, a secure slice of cloud computing where you can install your own software, write code, or browse the web as if it were a physical computer you own.

Most AI platforms are built like high-speed search engines—you send a message, and the system sends back a prediction of the next likely word. Muse is structured differently because it gives you access to a virtual machine. Think of a virtual machine like a guest room in a massive apartment building. Even though you are physically in the building, you have your own private, locked-off space that is completely separate from everyone else. This room has its own setup, its own files, and its own rules, but it is actually running on someone else's infrastructure. When you use Muse, you are logging into this private room in the cloud. You can tell your AI to put things in the drawer, organize files, or run software, and it treats that digital space as its own personal office.

The shift toward AI agents that act as personal computers raises important questions about trust and privacy. Because Muse is designed to be a permanent, helpful assistant that lives in your cloud workspace, it is often granted access to a vast amount of your personal data and activity. Experts point out that wrapping a powerful data-processing tool in a cute, harmless-looking mascot can make users feel more comfortable and less likely to scrutinize how their information is being handled or where it is being sent. As these agents start handling more of our tasks, the line between a fun, helpful companion and a sophisticated data-collection tool becomes increasingly thin. Whether you view Muse as a breakthrough in personal computing or a sophisticated way to keep users engaged with Meta's servers depends on how much autonomy you are comfortable handing over to an algorithm.