Meta launches Charm, a companion device to its Muse AI agent

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased hardware designed for interacting with its AI agent Muse during the company's Connect event. The new device, named Charm, resembles a Tamagotchi keychain with a small screen displaying an animated avatar of the Muse assistant. Users can initiate a conversation by tapping the fingerprint sensor on the device.

Alexandre Wang, Muse's creator, stated that Meta plans to release the Charm around the holiday season, though the final design and pricing remain unspecified. This initiative differs from Meta's Ray-Ban glasses equipped with AI capabilities. Charm serves as a dedicated physical platform for Muse, unlike Ray-Ban, which integrates AI features into its glasses.

OpenAI is reportedly developing its own hardware with designer Jony Ive, with a projected release in 2027. However, both Meta and OpenAI face challenges, as previous attempts like Humane's AI Pin and Rabbit R1 have received negative reviews. Muse, on the other hand, has shown significant success, surpassing ChatGPT as the top free iOS app in the US within days of its launch.

With Muse's growing popularity, Meta aims to expand its market presence further. Additionally, Meta unveiled an audio variant of its smart glasses, called Ray-Ban Meta Audio, set to launch in October. The company also announced significant updates to its VR device, the Meta VR Glasses, which are lighter and more compact than its previous models.

Zuckerberg envisions wearable AI as a replacement for smartphones in the future, and Meta is actively working towards that goal.