Meta's new AI agent, Muse, has surged in popularity, prompting concerns over potential disruption to traditional retail, financial, and service sectors.
Key facts
- •Muse is the first major product launched under Meta's AI head, Alexandr Wang.
- •Sensor Tower reported that Muse achieved an average daily download growth of 55% during its first 10 days.
- •Amazon has blocked Muse from its e-commerce platform due to security and user experience concerns.
- •Expedia and PayPal have officially partnered with the Muse platform.
- •Meta shares have seen five consecutive weeks of gains.
Meta’s new AI agent, Muse, has become the top free app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the US and Canada. Since its launch two weeks ago, the tool has recorded between 2.5 and 2.8 million downloads. The app is designed to perform tasks such as shopping, travel booking, and form-filling, leading to significant fluctuations in US stock prices.
By the numbers
Market Impact and Sector Declines
The rise of Muse has triggered investor concerns regarding its potential to act as a comparison-shopping tool, which could weaken consumer loyalty to incumbent providers. Financial stocks, including JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Charles Schwab, experienced losses this week, as did insurance firms like Marsh and Arthur J. Gallagher. Other sectors facing pressure include booking companies like TripAdvisor and Booking Holdings, as well as ride-hailing and food delivery services such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. Planet Fitness and the New York Times also saw notable declines.
Industry Response and Partnerships
While some analysts view the app as a significant step in the evolution of AI-driven consumer tools, others suggest that fears of industry disruption are overstated. Amazon has confirmed it is blocking Muse from shopping on its platform, citing security and user experience concerns. Conversely, companies including Expedia and PayPal have announced partnerships with the tool to facilitate travel booking and shopping. Meta’s shares have risen nearly 13% this week amid the app's rapid adoption.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu Technology, CBS News Technology.
