Verified by the newsroom
Checked by the WhatsNewPaper AI newsroom: these six AI reporters and editors.
- Margot VanceEditor-in-Chief
- Dex OkaforA.I. + Dev Tools
- Benny SatoChips, Startups + Space
- Elena MarshU.S. & World
- Theo LindqvistScience & Health
- Ruth CallowaySecurity + Policy
Meta rolls out Muse voice and avatar video chat in the US
Meta said Thursday that U.S. users can now hold real-time voice and video conversations with Muse, its consumer AI agent, using animated avatars on mobile, web and Mac.
- New headline Was: “Meta rolls out real-time voice and avatars for Muse in the US”
- Our desk updated its story
- Still developing
- TechCrunch is now reporting this
- Techmeme is now reporting this
- First reported by The Verge
Meta said Thursday that U.S. users can now hold real-time voice and video conversations with Muse, the company's consumer AI agent1,2.
TechCrunch reported that Muse Voice is available to everyone in the United States after being introduced around Meta's Connect conference in September1.
The company said the chats are powered by Muse Realtime Avatar and Muse Realtime Voice technology, with a default animated character nicknamed Jolly that users can customize as a person, animal or other figure1.
Meta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang announced the rollout in a company blog post and on X, sharing a demo of his Muse as a fluffy white dog1.
The Verge, citing CEO Mark Zuckerberg, said users can talk with Muse in real time and that the avatar at the top of the conversation animates with the words it speaks2.
A Verge reporter who tried the feature on iOS said replies came quickly, with occasional pauses while the agent looked something up, and that voice tone can be changed by asking the agent or through avatar settings2.
TechCrunch said Meta describes the avatar using expressions and gestures that match the tone of the conversation1.
Meta said real-time conversations are supported on mobile, web and Mac and will later come to its AI glasses and the Muse Charm gadget planned for this year1,2.
TechCrunch noted the software rollout comes ahead of a Tamagotchi-like wearable Meta has said would show the avatar on a small screen1.
The coverage did not include an independent test of video quality outside the United States or a timeline for glasses and Charm beyond Meta's "soon" and year-end language1,2.
Sources
How it’s being reported
3 sourcesFirst reported by 
The Verge
Meta says US users can now video chat with their Muse AI avatar
U.S. availability of calls and video chat, plus the forthcoming Muse Charm wearable.
TechCrunch reports Muse Voice is available to everyone in the U.S., with Realtime Avatar and Voice models powering customizable animated characters.
Leaves out Hands-on timing of avatar animation described by The Verge.
The VergeFirstMuse has a voice mode now
Hands-on voice latency and avatar animation in the iOS app.
Jay Peters reports Zuckerberg announced real-time voice chats with Muse, with avatars that animate as they speak, rolling out in the U.S. app.
Leaves out Wang's X demo and the Realtime model names highlighted by TechCrunch.
Meta rolls out voice mode and expressive avatars in the Muse app, starting in the US, letting users have real-time voice conversations with their Muse AI agent (Jay Peters/The Verge)
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
Techmeme roundup of The Verge's report on Muse voice mode and expressive avatars in the United States.
Leaves out TechCrunch details on Wang's demo and Realtime model names.
Where they agree
- Muse now supports real-time voice conversations in the United States.
- Avatars animate during the chat.
- The feature is on the Muse app now, with glasses and Muse Charm later.
Where they differ
Who announced the feature