Meta's Muse can now make calls on your behalf (if you have a paid subscription) (www.engadget.com)

Meta has announced a significant upgrade to its AI agent, Muse, which can now make phone calls on users' behalf, contingent on a paid subscription. This feature enables Muse to handle tasks such as scheduling appointments and making reservations, effectively functioning as a personal assistant. Meta's Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, highlighted the ease with which early users reported success in executing phone-related tasks, including handling hold times—evidenced by user Matt Schlicht's experience with a Volvo dealership call. This development is noteworthy for the AI/ML community as it showcases the ongoing advancements in conversational AI and its real-world applications. Muse's ability to engage in phone conversations without explicitly identifying itself as an AI raises questions about transparency and the potential for user trust in AI communications. As Meta continues to roll out features for Muse—now boasting over 10 million users—the move positions the company among competitors like Google and Instinct, both of which have previously ventured into AI-driven phone capabilities. This evolution of AI technology underscores the growing potential for AI to relieve mundane communication tasks, although ethical considerations around its use will need to be addressed.