Meta is rolling out a new feature for its AI assistant, Muse, allowing it to make phone calls on behalf of users. This new capability, aimed at handling tedious tasks, is available to users with the highest tier of Meta AI’s paid subscription.
Muse Takes on the Phone Calls
Meta’s AI-powered agent, Muse, can now be instructed to contact businesses in the United States, tackling a range of errands that users might prefer to avoid. This functionality was announced by Meta’s Chief AI Officer, Yann LeCun, via a post on X, stating that Muse can “make all the calls you don’t want to make yourself.”
Users can leverage Muse for various purposes, such as reaching out to insurance companies, cable service providers, scheduling appointments with the Department of Motor Vehicles, or even booking a table at a restaurant. Muse employs AI-generated speech to interact with human representatives on the other end of the line.
Challenges and Availability
While the feature promises convenience, it’s not always seamless. Reports indicate that some business employees hang up when they recognize the caller as an AI. Reasons cited include a desire to prevent fraud, or a perception that such calls might be time-wasting pranks.
This call-making functionality has been tested with early users for several months. It is now being made available to subscribers of Meta AI’s premium tier. This subscription costs $19.99 per month (approximately 133.6 RMB at the current exchange rate).
The Growing Trend of AI Calling Assistants
Muse is not the first AI tool to offer a “call me” or “call for me” service. Google’s Gemini boasts a similar feature called “Call for Me,” compatible with Pixel 11 and Pixel 10 devices. Gemini’s functionality allows it to make calls using the user’s own phone number. Additionally, another prominent AI agent, Instinct, began testing its call-making capabilities in September.
The introduction of Muse’s calling feature highlights the increasing sophistication of AI assistants and their growing integration into everyday tasks. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect more tools designed to streamline communication and automate mundane chores, though challenges related to human-AI interaction and trust will likely persist.
