Image Source: CNBC
Muse, Meta’s new AI personal agent, is rapidly gaining attention after overtaking ChatGPT on Apple’s U.S. App Store. The app reached the top position among free iPhone applications just days after its September 8 launch, signaling growing consumer interest in AI tools that can complete tasks rather than simply answer questions.
According to analytics firm Sensor Tower, Muse recorded approximately 730,000 downloads during the five days after its release. By Monday, the app had surpassed 2.5 million downloads across Apple’s iOS and Google Play stores.
Muse Delivers a Powerful Challenge to ChatGPT
The early momentum puts Meta directly into competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Grok. Muse moved ahead of ChatGPT in the U.S. iOS free-app rankings on Friday and remained in front as of Monday.
Sensor Tower reported that Muse collected roughly 1.5 million iOS downloads and 1.1 million Android downloads after launch. During a comparable 13-day period, Claude recorded about 400,000 downloads, while Grok reached approximately 200,000.
ChatGPT remained larger over that same window, with 3.1 million downloads, but its longer-established position makes Muse’s rapid debut notable. Sensor Tower also cautioned that staggered platform launches affected the comparison between the applications.
- Muse surpassed 2.5 million total downloads.
- The app recorded about 730,000 downloads in roughly five days.
- ChatGPT reached 3.1 million downloads during a comparable period.
- Claude and Grok recorded approximately 400,000 and 200,000 downloads, respectively.
How Meta’s AI Agent Works
Meta is positioning Muse as a personal digital assistant capable of managing tasks across the internet. The company says users can direct its agents to complete activities such as filling out online forms, organizing email inboxes, and handling other web-based assignments.
The application is powered by Meta’s Muse Spark family of artificial intelligence models. Its arrival represents a significant move by CEO Mark Zuckerberg into the growing AI agent market, which has attracted attention from developers, technology enthusiasts, and major consumer brands.
Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon told CNBC that many earlier agentic AI applications were aimed primarily at technical users. He said Meta’s product could help bring these tools to a broader consumer audience.
That shift is important because AI agents are designed to act on a user’s behalf. Instead of merely generating text or images, they can navigate websites, interact with services, and potentially make purchases. This capability could change how people use online platforms.
Privacy and Security Questions Intensify
Muse’s strong debut comes as the technology industry faces growing scrutiny over artificial intelligence safety, cybersecurity, and personal data. Meta offers the app for free but also provides monthly subscriptions priced at $20 or $100, depending on usage.
The subscription model could give Meta a new way to generate revenue from AI agents without relying entirely on digital advertising. However, the company may face challenges if users become concerned about the amount of information the service can access.
“They care about security, I don’t know how much they care about privacy,” Rasgon said when discussing the potential long-term risks for Meta.
Those concerns became more visible after Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its shopping website. Amazon said it had not been notified in advance and raised concerns that the agent could bypass personalization features, capture customer credentials, and collect account information.
An Amazon spokesperson said third-party applications that purchase products for customers should operate transparently and respect the decisions of service providers. The dispute highlights the tension between automated shopping assistants and the companies whose websites they access.
Shopify Embraces Agentic Checkout
While Amazon rejected Muse access, Shopify took a different approach. Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke announced that the e-commerce company was partnering with Meta to support agentic checkout in participating online stores.
The contrasting responses show that retailers are still deciding how to manage AI-powered shopping tools. Some may view agents as a way to simplify checkout and increase sales, while others may worry about losing control over customer relationships, payment details, and website traffic.
What Comes Next for Muse?
Meta’s stock rose more than 11% on Monday as investor enthusiasm around the company’s AI progress intensified. Wells Fargo also raised its reported price target for Meta to $796.
Still, a strong launch does not guarantee lasting popularity. Other AI products, including OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Vibes video tool, experienced early download surges that later proved difficult to sustain.
The future of Muse will likely depend on whether it can deliver reliable results, protect user information, and work smoothly across the web. Its rapid rise shows that consumers are curious about personal AI agents, but privacy concerns and platform restrictions could determine whether the excitement becomes a long-term trend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Muse
What is Muse?
Muse is Meta’s AI personal agent application. It is designed to help users manage digital tasks, including organizing email, completing online forms, and interacting with websites.
When did Muse launch?
Meta launched Muse on September 8, 2026. The app quickly climbed the U.S. iOS free-app rankings and later became the leading free iPhone app.
How does Muse compare with ChatGPT?
Muse surpassed ChatGPT in the U.S. iOS rankings after launch. However, Sensor Tower reported that ChatGPT recorded more downloads during a comparable 13-day period.
Why did Amazon block Muse?
Amazon cited privacy and security concerns. The company said Muse appeared capable of capturing credentials, scraping account data, and bypassing features built into Amazon’s shopping experience.
Does Muse cost money?
Muse is available as a free app, while Meta also offers subscription plans priced at $20 or $100 per month, depending on usage.
