Meta's AI agent Muse is now the No. 2 app in the US (techcrunch.com)

Meta's new AI app, Muse, has quickly climbed to the No. 2 spot on the U.S. App Store, achieving over 83,000 downloads shortly after its launch. Although this figure is modest compared to the launches of Meta's previous apps like Threads and Meta AI, it signifies a growing interest in agentic AI, where applications assist users in completing tasks. Available only in the U.S. for now, Muse is also accessible via web and WhatsApp, but its Android performance has been less impressive, ranking No. 338 in the Productivity category. The significance of Muse lies in its position as a key player in the emerging market of consumer-facing AI agents, which companies like Google and Anthropic are also pursuing. Meta's emphasis on agents that facilitate everyday tasks aligns with a broader trend toward making AI more accessible and practical for daily use. Competing with Instinct, a rapidly evolving AI agent with recent feature additions and a major valuation, Meta's Muse must overcome challenges related to user trust, particularly given the company's history with privacy concerns. As the race for user-friendly AI agents heats up, the initial response to Muse will be crucial in determining Meta's future in this domain.