Meta Opens Muse AI Platform to Third-Party Hardware Makers

Meta is expanding its Muse AI assistant beyond its own devices by inviting developers to create custom hardware powered by the agent. The company launched Muse Gadgets, an open source initiative that provides developers with firmware and a Linux SDK needed to integrate Muse into their own products.

Nat Friedman, head of product at Meta's superintelligence labs, outlined the technical foundation for the project. Developers will have access to the tools required to bring Muse functionality to various hardware form factors. Meta has suggested several possibilities, including E Ink displays, HDMI dongles for televisions, and touchscreen accessories similar in design to the Muse Charm. The platform appears flexible enough to support other device types as well, allowing makers to experiment with different implementations. Meta has also established a Discord community dedicated to supporting developers working on Muse-powered gadgets.

To demonstrate the concept, Meta created its own reference device called the Muse Home Link. This USB-C powered dongle enables Muse to connect to home networks and communicate with compatible smart home devices, including televisions, speakers, and other equipment that supports HTTPS connectivity. Meta is distributing 5,000 units of the Home Link to Muse subscribers.

The Muse Charm, which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced at the company's Connect conference last week, serves as the primary dedicated hardware for the Muse agent. The device offers users an alternative way to interact with the AI without relying on Meta's smart glasses. By opening the platform to third-party developers, Meta appears positioned to gather insights from the hobbyist and professional maker communities, potentially informing future iterations of its own hardware products.

The initiative reflects a broader strategy of building an ecosystem around Muse rather than limiting the agent to proprietary devices. Whether Meta plans to expand the program or commercialize developer-created gadgets remains unclear at this stage.