Meta launches Muse AI agent in Singapore for shopping, travel and email management
Meta has launched its personal AI agent Muse in Singapore, allowing users to manage emails, plan travel and shop through connected apps. The service is free for most uses and has early partnerships with brands including Agoda, Grab, Lazada, Shopee and Singapore Airlines.
Meta has launched its personal artificial intelligence agent Muse in Singapore, making the city-state the second market after the United States to receive the service. Available from 27 Oct on iOS, Android and muse.ai, the AI agent can carry out tasks on a user's behalf rather than simply responding to questions, Meta said in an announcement.
Muse is designed to help users stay on top of everyday tasks such as managing emails, coordinating schedules and turning long-term goals into action plans. Users can connect the agent to apps including Gmail, Google Calendar and Instagram. The AI runs on Muse Secure VM, a dedicated cloud computer that stores data and credentials for connected services while keeping passwords and payment methods hidden. The agent checks with users before carrying out sensitive actions such as sending an email or making a purchase.
In Singapore, Muse has early connector partnerships with Agoda, Grab, Klook, Lazada, ShopBack, Shopee, Singapore Airlines and Trip.com across shopping, groceries, dining and travel. Connector features will roll out progressively after the initial launch. Users can ask Muse to compare products on Shopee or Lazada, plan grocery shopping through GrabMart, or explore travel options through Singapore Airlines, Agoda, Klook and Trip.com.
Ms Nicole Tan, managing director of Meta Singapore, said Muse is built to help make everyday life easier by connecting with some of the most iconic brands in Singapore and the region. The service is free for most uses, with subscription plans for users who want additional capabilities. Muse is also coming soon to Meta's AI glasses.
Reuters reported in September that Meta employees testing Muse had encountered mixed results. Some found the product useful for arranging holiday logistics, while others reported reliability and security problems, including an instance in which the agent exposed a person's personal iCloud photos. Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the specific incidents at the time. Mr Vishal Shah, vice-president of AI products at Meta, told Reuters the company delayed the product's release to make it more secure. He said every part of the architecture has been designed to make Muse as safe, secure and private as possible. Among the protections is a separate Sentinel agent that monitors planned actions and prompts Muse to seek user authorisation in certain cases.
