Meta introduces a small handheld AI pet called the Muse Charm

Meta has entered the AI hardware market with the introduction of the Muse Charm, a handheld companion device comparable in scale to a Tamagotchi. This small gadget, which is roughly the size of an Apple Watch, features a teddy bear avatar that interacts with users through voice commands. Unlike previous hardware attempts from startups like Rabbit or Humane, Meta maintains full ownership over the integrated software, hardware, and underlying models. While the specific model powering the device remains unannounced, the hardware is expected to process voice-to-text and text-to-speech functions locally, while more complex responses are generated via Meta's Muse AI.

This move signals Meta's strategy to bring agentic AI to a broader consumer audience through specialized physical widgets. By controlling the entire technology stack rather than relying on third-party models from companies like OpenAI, Meta can optimize the user experience and maintain tighter integration between the device and its proprietary AI. This development follows a period of intense competition in the sector, as major players like Anthropic and OpenAI continue to release rapid model updates.