Meta puts its AI ambitions in your pocket with Muse Charm

Meta has unveiled Muse Charm, a pocket-sized device built around its new AI assistant. The bigger question is whether people need another piece of hardware to use it.

Mark Zuckerberg revealed Charm at Meta Connect, giving users direct access to Muse without opening a smartphone app. It has a roughly two-inch screen, a customisable character at the centre of its interface and built-in 5G connectivity. It cannot make calls. Meta says Muse will also come to its smart glasses lineup.

Muse is designed to do more than answer questions. Meta says the agent can carry out tasks such as sending emails and booking travel, with users choosing which apps it can access. Charm is an attempt to make that assistant available throughout the day, in a device of Meta’s own.

The hurdle is familiar: a dedicated AI gadget has to offer a compelling reason to reach for it instead of a phone. Analysts cited by Reuters see potential appeal in Charm’s personal, nostalgic design, but remain cautious about its chances of becoming mainstream