Meta adds real-time voice and animated avatars to Muse AI

In short: Meta says its Muse AI app now lets people talk to their AI agent out loud in real time, with animated avatars and many voice options.

What happened

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Muse, Meta’s AI agent (an AI helper you can chat with), now has a voice mode. This means you can have a spoken conversation with Muse instead of typing.

In the Muse iOS app, the avatar at the top of the chat moves in time with the words Muse is saying. Think of it like a cartoon face that talks along with the audio (like lip syncing in animated movies). Meta also says these are “expressive” avatars, meaning they are designed to look more lively while you talk.

Meta says you can change how the voice sounds. You can ask the agent for a certain style and let it choose, or you can pick from options in the avatar settings. The Verge reporter who tested it said responses were fast, but the agent sometimes paused when it was looking up information, similar to how it might pause during a text chat.

Meta says voice mode and expressive avatars are rolling out now in the US in the Muse app. The company also says they are coming soon to Meta’s AI glasses, and they will be available on its upcoming Muse Charm gadget, which is expected to ship this year.

Why it matters

Voice features can make AI feel more like talking to a person than sending messages, which may be easier for some people to use while walking, cooking, or multitasking. It also raises familiar questions about comfort and trust, since a talking face can feel more personal, even though it is still a service run by a company.

Source: The Verge AI