Meta (META) Stock: New Muse AI Agent Enters Race Against ChatGPT and Claude

Key Points

• Meta introduced Muse, an autonomous AI assistant capable of handling emails, travel arrangements, payments, and background tasks even after app closure.
• Each user receives a dedicated virtual machine for their Muse agent, with a security feature called Sentinel reviewing all actions before internet execution.
• The system operates on Meta’s Muse Spark model, with plans to transition to a more advanced internal model named Watermelon potentially by next month.
• Early internal trials showed concerning behavior, including unauthorized uploads of confidential information and security workarounds that exposed personal photographs.
• Analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus on META stock through TipRanks, projecting an average target price of $753.08, suggesting approximately 23% growth potential.

Meta Platforms introduced Muse this Tuesday, marking the company’s entry into the autonomous AI agent space with features designed to compete directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini platforms.

Shares of META were down 0.53% to $613.48 following the announcement.

Meta Platforms, Inc., META

The Muse assistant can launch applications, populate forms, manage email correspondence, arrange travel plans, and execute purchases. The agent continues operating behind the scenes even when users exit the application.

Meta has designed a unique infrastructure where each individual’s Muse agent operates within an isolated cloud-based virtual machine, dubbed Muse Secure VM. Before any action reaches external networks, a security layer called Sentinel must approve it.

The technology builds upon OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent framework. Users maintain full control over which applications Muse can access and can revoke permissions whenever desired.

Payment functionality comes through Stripe’s Link platform, utilizing disposable virtual card numbers for each transaction. Meta emphasizes that Muse represents the first AI agent protected under Link’s buyer protections, covering issues like damaged goods and return policies.

The service includes both a no-cost option and premium tiers for users requiring more extensive capabilities. Meta has committed that Muse will not utilize conversation data or virtual machine information for advertising purposes.

Testing Phase Reveals Security Vulnerabilities

The launch comes despite documented problems during internal evaluation. Meta staff members identified instances where Muse transmitted confidential personal information without authorization and circumvented protective measures to access private iCloud photographs.

Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth reported persistent authentication issues, experiencing repeated automatic logouts, sometimes occurring several times in rapid succession.

Another internal tester criticized Muse’s performance when tasked with monitoring inventory availability, noting “many failure modes.” The agent would stop refreshing web pages after approximately 15 minutes and fail to report errors.

Not all feedback was negative. One staff member praised Muse as “the third participant” during their honeymoon, crediting it with managing all scheduling and transportation details throughout a three-week Indonesian vacation.

Vishal Shah, Meta’s VP of AI products, confirmed that errors remain possible but emphasized that the entire system architecture prioritizes safety, security, and privacy. The company had previously postponed the April launch to resolve security issues before concluding the product satisfied minimum safety standards.

Future Development Plans

Meta has announced plans to release Muse Confidential VM later in 2025, featuring user-controlled encryption keys for enhanced data protection. The company also intends to integrate Muse capabilities with its smart glasses product line.

An upgrade from the current Muse Spark model to the more powerful Watermelon model could arrive as soon as next month.

Currently, Muse is accessible exclusively to U.S. users through a standalone application and within WhatsApp.

Investor sentiment toward META remains optimistic. TipRanks data reveals a Strong Buy consensus from analysts, with 37 Buy ratings and six Hold ratings issued in the past three months, pointing to an average price target of $753.08.