Less than two weeks after a $18 billion settlement over social media harms, Meta introduced its new AI agent, Muse. Designed to handle tasks from booking travel to creating grocery lists, Muse requires users to grant it access to a wide range of personal apps and services. The AI agent is powered by Meta’s own AI model, Muse Spark, and comes with subscription plans starting at $20 per month.

The concept of AI agents is not unique to Meta, as larger companies and startups alike are experimenting with this technology. However, the privacy and security concerns raised by Meta’s past actions loom large. Will users trust Meta with their personal information, or will the company’s history of privacy breaches prove a major hurdle for Muse’s success?

Meta claims that Muse runs in a dedicated, secure environment, offering various privacy and security protections. However, these claims will require independent verification. The company’s history of misleading consumers and mishandling data has raised doubts about its ability to earn users’ trust. As the agentic era comes into its own, the success of AI agents like Muse will depend not only on their functionality but also on how well they address users’ concerns about privacy and security.

Despite its potential, Muse faces a challenge in establishing trust. The company will have to prove that it can keep user data secure and transparently handle user information. Time will tell whether the allure of streamlined task management will outweigh the lingering concerns about Meta’s past privacy breaches.