Meta's Muse Gadgets project invites developers to build AI-connected hardware

Meta Open Sources Muse Gadgets, Letting DIY Enthusiasts Build Custom AI Hardware

Meta announced Muse Gadgets on Friday, an open-source initiative that allows developers and hobbyists to build custom hardware connected to its Muse AI agent. The project gives tinkerers the tools to create their own Muse-powered devices, from e-ink displays to TV dongles and smart home hubs.

What Meta Is Providing

The company released open-source firmware and a Linux software development kit (SDK) that enables developers to connect Muse to off-the-shelf hardware . Users can program low-cost ESP32 boards or set up a Raspberry Pi, then connect Muse to "displays, buttons, sensors, actuators, and whatever else you've got lying on your workbench," Meta said .

Meta has also set up a dedicated Discord channel to support the project .

Project Ideas and Possibilities

Meta suggested several possible builds to get people started :

- A color e-ink display to show reminders

- An HDMI stick that plugs into a TV to display Muse on a big screen

- A small touchscreen device resembling a DIY version of the upcoming Muse Charm

- Smart home integrations to control lights, TVs, and printers

The company cautioned on its official site that users should "proceed at your own risk," noting potential side effects like bricking devices or voiding warranties .

Muse Home Link: Meta's Own Example Device

Meta built its own demonstration device called Muse Home Link, a USB-C powered gadget that connects Muse to a home network and communicates with smart home devices including speakers and smart TVs .

Nat Friedman, head of product at Meta's Superintelligence Labs, announced on X that Meta manufactured 5,000 units of the Home Link to give away free to Muse subscribers, first come first served . Given that Friedman's post received nearly 30,000 views within hours, the free devices were likely claimed quickly .

The Home Link hardware uses an Espressif ESP32-C5 chip with dual-band Wi-Fi 6, 8MB PSRAM, and 8MB flash, housed in a compact 35 × 42 × 10 mm form factor .

Strategic Context

Muse Gadgets aligns with Meta's broader strategy to make Muse more than just a standalone chatbot. The company is simultaneously pursuing multiple fronts:

Consumer: Muse launched on September 8 in the US and Canada, quickly climbing to the top of Apple's App Store charts. It reached 5 million downloads in North America within three weeks .

Small Business: Earlier this week, Meta introduced Muse for Small Business, a free service with usage limits that connects Muse to platforms including Shopify, Dropbox, Slack, Canva, Figma, and Intuit QuickBooks .

Enterprise: Meta also launched a new business unit called Meta Enterprise Platform to market its AI offerings to corporate customers, hiring former MongoDB CEO CJ Desai to lead the effort .

Background on Muse

Muse is Meta's personal AI agent that can book travel, fill out forms, make purchases, and negotiate on users' behalf . It runs on Muse Secure VM, a dedicated virtual machine with its own browser, and includes privacy protections such as requiring user approval before sensitive actions like sending emails or making purchases .

The agent can remember user preferences and make proactive suggestions, such as turning a saved Instagram recipe into a grocery list or suggesting a dinner party menu based on friends' dietary restrictions .

Muse is available free for most uses, with subscription plans at $20 and $100 per month for heavier usage .