Meta's AI Agent Muse Surges Past 902,000 Downloads in First Six Days

Meta's latest AI agent, Muse, has taken the mobile app store charts by storm, registering over 902,000 downloads in its first six days. Launched on September 8, Muse topped the free app rankings across both Apple's iOS App Store and Google Play in the U.S., outperforming its predecessor, the Meta AI app.

The tool allows users to build customized agents that can handle complex tasks across the web, referencing their personal context across Meta platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Instagram. Muse also integrates with third-party services like Gmail, Google Calendar, and OpenTable, enabling users to complete tasks or book appointments on their behalf. Basic access is free, but Meta is monetizing the tool with subscription tiers priced at $20 and $100 per month for higher usage limits.

The strong early response has provided investors with a tangible sign of returns on Meta's massive capital expenditures. Facing scrutiny over projected AI and data center spending of $130 billion to $145 billion this year, Meta's stock jumped more than 11% on Monday, putting it on pace for its best monthly gain in 13 years.

However, Amazon has begun blocking Muse from accessing its online store, displaying pop-up notifications to users stating that the bot violates Amazon's terms of service. The retailer prohibits third-party automated tools from browsing and purchasing items from its catalog. 'We think it's fairly straightforward that third-party applications that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers from other businesses should operate openly and respect service provider decisions about whether or not to participate,' said Amazon spokesperson Lara Hendrickson.