Meta's Muse AI agent can now talk and appear on video, starting in the US
Meta's consumer AI agent Muse now takes live voice calls and shows an animated face, with US users first in line.
The short version
- Meta announced the Muse voice and avatar features on the 5th, with a US rollout under way
- Tap the phone icon at the top right of the Muse app to start talking
- Three views: voice only, avatar beside the chat, or a full-screen face-to-face call
- Hundreds of voices are on offer, and you can interrupt Muse while it speaks
- Outside the US, Meta has not announced when the features will arrive
Why it matters
Talking to an AI is moving from a novelty to a default way of using it, and Meta is betting that a friendly face makes people more comfortable. If you prefer speaking to typing, this is a low-effort way to try that. It also shows where Meta wants Muse to live next: glasses and small dedicated gadgets, not just a phone app.
What Meta launched
Meta announced on the 5th that Muse, its consumer AI agent (an AI that can take actions, not only answer questions), can now hold real-time voice conversations and show an expressive animated avatar. As technews.tw reported, the rollout began in the US and covers mobile devices, the web and Mac.
To start, you tap the phone icon at the top right of the Muse app. From there you can simply talk, or step up to a video-style call where you see Muse's face.
How a call with Muse works
Meta says the features run on two systems it built itself, Muse Realtime Voice and Muse Realtime Avatar. They first appeared at its Connect 2026 developer conference in September.
Replies come back almost instantly, and you can cut in while Muse is talking, as you would with a person. While it listens and speaks, the avatar makes small expressions and gestures that follow the tone of the conversation.
You can pick from three layouts: voice only, an avatar next to the chat, or full-screen. Meta also offers hundreds of voices, from a lively New Yorker to a gruff pirate, and you can switch whenever you like.
A cartoon face on purpose
Meta pitches voice as a way to think out loud: brainstorming, planning a trip, rehearsing a job interview or practising a presentation. It also says you can hand off tasks by speaking while you walk or cook, and Muse works on them in the background.
TechCrunch noted that, unlike many voice chatbots, Muse comes with a cute animated character called Jolly by default. You can turn it into a person, an animal or another shape. Meta believes a human-like look deepens the bond between users and an AI agent. Alexandr Wang, Meta's chief AI officer, shared a demo on X with his own Muse as a fluffy white dog.
Hardware is next
The timing matters. Meta is preparing a Tamagotchi-like device built around Muse, due at the end of the year, and the avatar will appear on its small screen. Voice conversation is also meant to reach Meta's AI glasses and a device called Muse Charm.
For now, it is US only. Meta has not said when other regions will get it.
What to watch
- When will Meta open Muse voice and avatar outside the US?
- How will the avatar look on the year-end wearable's small screen?
- Will voice reach Meta's AI glasses and Muse Charm as promised?
Try it
If you are in the US, tap the phone icon in the Muse app and ask one real question out loud, such as a trip plan. Try interrupting it to see how it handles that.
Sources and links
- Reportingtechnews.tw: the article we sourced
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by technews.tw · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.