JP — ITmedia
Meta's AI Agent "Muse" Launches in Japan, Set to Integrate with Mercari, Money Forward, and Pia
AI1 min read
Meta has launched Muse, a personal AI agent (a helper program that does tasks for you), in Japan. It started in North America in September and is now going outside that region for the first time.
What happened
On October 23, Meta opened Muse to users in Japan. Muse can do tasks for you, such as sending emails and booking trips. In Japan, it already works with Gmail. Later, it will also work with Mercari, Money Forward ME, and Ticket Pia. You can use it on iOS, Android, and the web. Most basic features are free, and there are also paid subscription plans.
Key facts
- Launch date in Japan: October 23
- North America launch: September, the first time Muse was offered
- Works with Gmail, Google Calendar, Instagram, Stripe, Shopify, Trip.com, Agoda, and Klook
- Runs in a private cloud computer made for each user, called Muse Secure VM
- Asks the user before important actions like sending emails or buying things
How Muse works
You give Muse a goal in plain language, like finding a hotel in Osaka under 30,000 yen. Muse checks your calendar, searches and compares hotels online, and fills in web forms. Long tasks keep running even after you close the app. Muse then sends you a notice when it needs your approval. You choose which apps it can access, and you can change those permissions or disconnect them at any time.
Why it matters
Muse shows how AI helpers may soon handle everyday tasks like shopping and travel for us. Meta says a second AI, called Sentinel, checks what Muse does on outside services. Muse also cannot see your passwords or payment details directly. Meta also says chats and data in the virtual computer are not shared with its ad system, and you can stop Muse chats from being used to train Meta's AI.
What to watch
- When Mercari, Money Forward ME, and Ticket Pia connections start working
- How many people in Japan use Muse and whether paid plans become popular
- How well the safety checks by Sentinel protect users
Glossary
- Muse
- Meta's personal AI agent that can do tasks like emailing and booking for you, with your approval.
- Sentinel
- A second AI in Muse that checks outside access and actions and asks the user to approve them when needed.
- Muse Secure VM
- A private cloud computer made for each Muse user, where Muse runs its tasks.
- Mercari
- A Japanese online marketplace where people buy and sell used and new items.
- Money Forward ME
- A Japanese personal money app that tracks spending and accounts.