Meta's Muse makes phone calls for paid subscribers, raises transparency concerns

Meta's Muse can now make phone calls on your behalf, provided you have a paid subscription. This new feature allows the AI assistant to handle tasks like scheduling appointments and making reservations, becoming more akin to a personal assistant.

The change comes as Meta continues to enhance the capabilities of Muse, which has already attracted over 10 million users. According to Meta’s Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, the goal is to help users with calls they would rather avoid. The paid subscription for Muse includes additional tokens and features, making it a more comprehensive tool for managing daily tasks.

Early users of the phone-calling feature have reported positive experiences. Matt Schlicht, a creator at Moltbook and a Meta employee, shared an example of Muse successfully calling a Volvo dealership. He noted that the AI was able to wait on hold for 15 minutes to get the information he needed without any issues. However, there are concerns about transparency, as Muse does not explicitly identify itself as an AI during calls, which could lead to misunderstandings if the person on the other end becomes aware they are speaking to a machine.

This new capability positions Meta to compete with other tech companies that have introduced similar features. Google has offered phone-calling options for its Pixel phones, and other companies like Instinct have developed concierge tools for more complex interactions. As the demand for AI-driven personal assistants grows, it will be interesting to see how Muse evolves and whether it can maintain user trust amidst these advancements.