Meta launches open-source Muse hardware kit as AI agent tops 5 million downloads

Open-source hardware initiative

Meta introduced an open-source project called Muse Gadgets on 2 October 2026, allowing developers to create custom physical hardware for its AI agent. The company published open-source firmware and a Linux software development kit compatible with low-cost components, including Raspberry Pi computers and ESP32 boards. Suggested implementations include dedicated electronic ink notification screens, HDMI dongles for home televisions, and handheld touch accessories. To demonstrate the software, Meta built 5,000 units of the Muse Home Link, a reference USB-C device that connects to local networks to control smart appliances, televisions, and printers. Nat Friedman, head of product at Meta Superintelligence Labs, opened a waitlist for active subscribers ahead of shipments scheduled for October 2026. Meta also established a dedicated Discord server to provide technical support for community builders.

Muse gadgets are open source devices you build yourself. Program an off-the-shelf ESP32 board or set up a Raspberry Pi with our SDKs, then connect Muse to your displays, buttons, sensors, actuators, and whatever else you've got lying on your workbench.

Rapid user acquisition

The hardware release follows rapid adoption of the standalone mobile and desktop applications across North America. Sensor Tower analyst Kara Lee estimated that Muse surpassed 5 million downloads on 30 September 2026, achieving the figure in 22 days across the United States and Canada. By comparison, ChatGPT took 56 days to reach 5 million installations, Grok required 103 days, and Claude required 492 days. Internal data reported by Jyoti Mann of The Information showed that more than 3 million people prompt the agent weekly, with over 1 million daily prompters and more than 4 million total weekly active users. This growth was supported by promotional placements across Facebook and WhatsApp starting 16 September 2026, which drove a 73% single-day download increase and contributed to an 11% rise in Meta shares on 22 September 2026.

Commercial and enterprise expansion

Meta is expanding Muse beyond consumer automation into corporate environments. The company launched Muse for Small Business, providing free tiered access with direct connectors for Shopify, Dropbox, and Slack, supported by a newly created Meta Enterprise Platform division. At the Connect conference in late September 2026, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the Muse Charm, a dedicated device shaped like a small plush character scheduled for commercial release in December 2026. Zuckerberg described the standalone hardware as an option for users seeking voice interaction without wearing smart glasses. In Zurich, Meta researchers based near the ETH Center are developing software harnesses that link the underlying model to external databases, live web interfaces, and local file storage.

Privacy, security, and platform friction

The agent's broad system permissions have drawn scrutiny regarding user privacy and data security. When configured on desktop environments, Muse requests deep access to calendars, email accounts, and file systems to execute multi-step user requests. Thomas Germain of the BBC reported that Meta uses collected user interaction data to train future models by default, though an opt-out toggle exists in user settings. Security non-profit Objective-See co-founder Patrick Wardle discovered a critical software flaw shortly after release, which Meta patched immediately. External platforms have also resisted automated agents, with Amazon actively blocking Muse from completing purchases on its retail marketplace. A Meta spokesperson stated that the company delayed the initial launch for several months to conduct extensive privacy evaluations.

Safety and security is a huge priority for us.