Meta Bets a Tamagotchi-Style Device Can Sell Personal AI

Meta, the social media giant, has unveiled Muse Charm, a pocket-sized device aimed at personal interaction with its artificial intelligence agent, Muse. The device, showcased at Meta Connect on September 23, is designed to run solely on Muse, a feature Zuckerberg touted as more convenient than unlocking a phone or opening an app.

The Tamagotchi-style gadget, which has only seen a few prototypes thus far, is planned for a holiday release with no set price yet. Sporting a 2-inch touchscreen, fingerprint sensor, and 5G modem, Muse Charm eschews call-making capabilities. It features a cartoon Muse character on its screen instead of apps. IDC Director Jitesh Ubrani highlighted this device as catering to individuals who prefer not to wear glasses or trust them.

Originally slated for a 2027 launch, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg accelerated the release to this year. A similar pocket-sized device by OpenAI, backed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is expected in 2027. Muse Charm's uniqueness lies in its always-on nature, a stark contrast to phone agents that require opening. However, 8% of surveyed U.S. consumers expressed trust in Meta with their passwords, significantly lower than the 30% trust for Google, 23% for Apple, and 16% for ChatGPT.

Notably, 17% would trust no AI agent at all. Despite the skepticism, the survey revealed Generation Z is most likely to trust AI agents, viewing them as companions rather than mere search tools. Meta's foray into this niche market comes at a time when small AI gadgets have struggled to gain traction, with the Rabbit R1 being a notable flop. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio, Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), and Meta VR Glasses were also announced at the event.