Meta has rolled out video-chatting capabilities for its consumer AI agent Muse to all users in the United States, the company announced Thursday, enabling real-time conversations with a digital avatar that can react with expressions and gestures.
The feature, called Muse Voice, was first introduced at Meta’s Connect developer conference in September. It involves new AI models, Muse Realtime Avatar and Muse Realtime Voice technology, which help power the interaction. Users can customise the appearance of the avatar, changing it into something resembling a person, animal or other character, and the company said it believes anthropomorphizing Muse in this way could help consumers feel more connected to it.
The avatar does not actually see the user but hears them and reacts based on their conversations. As it speaks, Meta says, it will use “subtle expressions and gestures” that match the tone of the conversation. The rollout was announced in a blog post and on X by Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, who demonstrated his own Muse, a fluffy white dog, joking with it and receiving suggestions.
The launch comes ahead of Meta’s plan to release a Tamagotchi-like wearable device for Muse by the end of the year, on whose small screen the avatar would appear. Real-time conversations are supported on mobile, web and Mac, and will later reach Meta’s AI Glasses and the upcoming Muse Charm hardware device.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Meta is pushing its AI agent into a more intimate, always-available role, testing whether users will form ongoing relationships with an animated assistant.
- The video-chat feature and upcoming wearable put Meta in direct competition with voice-only AI assistants from other companies, betting that a visible character will increase engagement.
- The expansion to glasses and a dedicated device signals that Meta sees conversational AI as a core part of its augmented-reality and hardware strategy.
Background
Meta first introduced Muse as a consumer-facing AI agent earlier this year, positioning it as a more personalised alternative to generic voice assistants. The company has been adding capabilities incrementally, and the video-calling feature is the first to give the avatar a visual presence that reacts in real time. The Connect conference in September was where the company outlined its broader AI ambitions, including the wearable device.
What to Watch
- The launch of the Muse Charm wearable before the end of 2026, which will test whether users carry a dedicated AI companion device.
- Expansion of real-time conversations to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, which could bring Muse into everyday situations hands-free.
- User privacy and safety questions as an always-listening, always-seen avatar becomes more embedded in daily life.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMeta has made video chat with its Muse AI avatar available across the United States.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Muse Voice, a feature that lets users call and video chat with Meta’s consumer AI agent, Muse, is now available to everyone in the U.S.”
- SupportedMuse Voice was introduced at Meta Connect in September.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “First introduced at Meta’s Connect developer conference in September, the video-chatting feature involves new AI models”
- SupportedThe feature lets users call and video chat with Muse, and customize its avatar.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Muse Voice, a feature that lets users call and video chat with Meta’s consumer AI agent, Muse”
- SupportedMeta announced the rollout on Thursday.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Muse Voice, a feature that lets users call and video chat with Meta’s consumer AI agent, Muse, is now available to everyone in the U.S., the company announced on Thursday.”
- SupportedMeta says the avatar will use “subtle expressions and gestures” matching the conversation’s tone.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “As the Muse avatar speaks, Meta says it will use “subtle expressions and gestures” that match the tone of the conversation.”
- SupportedThe avatar does not see the user, but hears them and reacts based on their conversations.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “(Muse doesn’t actually “see” the user, but it hears them and reacts based on their conversations.)”
- SupportedUsers can customize the avatar to look like a person, animal or other character.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Users can also customize the avatar as they choose, changing it to something that looks more like a person, animal, or some other character.”
- SupportedMeta believes anthropomorphizing Muse could make consumers feel more connected to it.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “The company believes that anthropomorphizing Muse in this way could make consumers feel more connected to their AI agent”
- SupportedMeta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang announced the rollout in a blog post and on X.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “The news of the rollout was announced via blog post and on X by Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang”
- SupportedWang’s Muse was a fluffy white dog that made a suggestion during his demo.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “His Muse, a fluffy white dog, responds with a suggestion to add disclaimers to those memes”
- SupportedMeta plans to launch a Tamagotchi-like wearable for Muse before the end of the year.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “The added support for video chats and calls comes just before Meta’s plan to launch a Tamagotchi-like wearable device for its Muse AI agent before year-end.”
- SupportedReal-time conversations are supported on mobile, web and Mac, and will later come to Meta’s AI Glasses and Muse Charm.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Meta says the real-time conversations are supported on mobile, web, and Mac and will later come to its AI Glasses and the upcoming “Muse Charm” hardware device.”
