Meta has revealed a new AI wearable called Muse Charm. The small device gives users another way to reach Muse, the company's personal AI agent.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off the gadget on Wednesday during Meta's annual Connect event. He introduced it as a "one more thing" surprise during his keynote.
How Muse Charm Works
Muse Charm is a palm-sized device that users can carry in a pocket or attach to a keychain. It has a tiny screen that shows a digital avatar for the Muse agent.
Inside the company, that avatar is known as Jolly. Users can talk to the device, which is expected to carry out tasks for them.
"We packed the whole Muse experience, including the whole real-time voice and avatar stack, into something that fits on a keychain and is always available to talk to," Zuckerberg said during the keynote.
To start a conversation, users tap a fingerprint sensor in the corner of the device. Zuckerberg said this lets people talk to Muse without unlocking a phone or opening an app.
He also pitched the device to people who do not wear Meta's smart glasses. "So if you're not wearing glasses, this is going to be by far the fastest way to talk to your Muse and to show what's going on around you," he said.
Shipping Plans and a Crowded Market
Meta is not the first company to try a small AI device. Other products, such as the Friend pendant, have tried the same idea.
Those devices have drawn doubt from many consumers. TechCrunch described the AI amulet as something of a cliché in the tech industry.
Muse Charm has been compared to a Tamagotchi, the classic digital pet toy. Like that toy, it is light, small, and built around a character with a personality.
The device is designed to keep users connected to Meta's software. It also gives the company another way to bring its AI agent to more people.
Muse itself launched recently. According to TechCrunch, the agent has already become popular with users.
TechCrunch called the device a relatively low-stakes way for Meta to test AI wearables. The report did not include pricing details.
Muse Charm is not available yet. Zuckerberg said his team still needs to "finalize laying out the components."
He promised the device will be "ready to ship in time for the holidays in December."
