Meta rolls out Muse Voice video chats to all US users

In short: Meta says everyone in the U.S. can now call and video chat with its Muse AI assistant through a customizable animated avatar.

What happened

Meta announced that “Muse Voice,” a feature for real-time calls and video chats with its consumer AI assistant, Muse, is now available to all U.S. users. Meta first introduced the feature at its Connect conference in September.

Instead of talking to a blank screen or a simple voice assistant, users can chat with an animated character. Meta’s default avatar is nicknamed Jolly, and people can customize it to look more like a person, an animal, or another character.

Meta says the avatar will show small facial expressions and gestures that match the conversation. The company says this is powered by new “realtime” technology, which means the system tries to respond quickly, like a normal conversation instead of delayed messages.

Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, also posted about the rollout and shared a demo. In the demo, his Muse avatar appeared as a fluffy white dog and suggested adding disclaimers to memes that could be misunderstood.

Why it matters

More companies are trying to make AI assistants feel easier to talk to, not just useful. Giving the assistant a face and body language is like adding a shop clerk to a help desk, instead of making you read signs on the wall. It may also raise new questions about comfort and trust, since people can feel more connected to something that looks alive.

Meta says the feature works on mobile, the web, and Mac today. It is also expected to come later to Meta’s AI Glasses and a planned “Muse Charm” wearable device, described as Tamagotchi-like, before the end of the year.

Source: TechCrunch AI