Emails, Shopping, Reservations — All Without Lifting a Finger? A Deep Dive into Meta's AI Agent 'Muse'

How Is It Different from a Chatbot? What Makes Muse Special

AI chatbots like ChatGPT have always played a reactive role — you ask, they answer. Meta's Muse is something else entirely. It's an AI Agent that takes action on your behalf.

Unveiled on September 8, 2026, Muse can send emails, book flights, and complete purchases — all on its own. It keeps working in the background even after you close the app, and always asks for your approval before making any important decisions. Think of it as a personal digital assistant on call 24/7.

5 Things Muse Can Actually Do for You

Try saying something like: "Find all the subscriptions I haven't used in the past three months and cancel them."
Muse will search your inbox, identify active subscriptions, and handle the cancellation process from start to finish.

Here's a breakdown of its key features:
- Email & Calendar Management: Drafts and sends emails, schedules meetings and appointments
- Travel Booking: Automatically books flights, hotels, and experiences via Expedia and other platforms
- Shopping Assistant: Shops across 50+ brands including Walmart, Gap, and Sephora
- Cost Cutting: Cancels unused subscriptions, negotiates bills on your behalf
- Recipe to Cart: Converts your saved Instagram recipes into a grocery list automatically

On the security front, each user gets a dedicated Secure Virtual Machine — meaning Meta cannot access your passwords or payment details, and the system is completely siloed from its advertising infrastructure. Pricing comes in three tiers: Free (Basic) / $20/month (Power) / $100/month (Maximum).

How New Zealand and South Korea Are Reacting to the 'Muse Shock'

Within just 12 days of launch, Muse reached 642,000 daily active users — dwarfing ChatGPT's 231,000 over the same period. The global AI agent market is projected to grow to approximately $251.4 billion by 2034.

New Zealand doesn't have access to Muse yet. However, the New Zealand government published its national AI strategy in July 2025 and ran an NZD $765,000 AI advisory pilot program for 51 small and medium businesses in early 2026. In August 2026, a partnership was also announced to bring agentic voice AI solutions to New Zealand enterprises — signaling that the groundwork is being laid quickly.

South Korea is also still waiting for the service, but major Korean media outlets have been buzzing with coverage since launch — some calling it the "Muse Shock." Alongside the excitement, security concerns have been raised: if an AI agent is authorized to make payments, the potential damage from a malfunction or hack could be significant. In a global survey, only 8% of respondents said they'd be willing to hand their passwords over to Meta.

Key Takeaways

• Meta Muse is not just a conversational AI — it's an AI agent that takes real-world action
• It handles everyday chores like emails, bookings, shopping, and subscription cancellations on your behalf
• Available in three tiers from free to $100/month; currently limited to the US and Canada (not yet in New Zealand or South Korea)
• Surpassed ChatGPT in adoption within two weeks — a clear signal that the AI agent era has truly begun
• New Zealand is preparing through its national AI strategy; South Korea is watching closely while debating security implications

Wrapping Up

Muse represents a historic turning point — AI evolving from a "tool" into a "delegate." Launch dates for New Zealand and South Korea are still unconfirmed, but now is the perfect time to get familiar with what AI agents are and how they work, so you're ready when the day comes.