Meta has officially expanded the capabilities of its consumer artificial intelligence agent, Muse, allowing the software to place outbound phone calls to U.S. businesses on behalf of users. Following an initial test phase launched in September that was limited to a select group of early adopters who requested access, the feature is now rolling out more broadly. However, access to this automated calling tool is currently restricted strictly to paying subscribers. The expansion marks another significant step for Muse, which recently surpassed 10 million users according to company statements from last month, as it attempts to integrate deeper into daily consumer routines by taking over tedious everyday chores.
According to Alexandr Wang, Meta’s chief AI officer and head of its Superintelligence Labs division, the new capability is designed to handle phone conversations that many people actively prefer to avoid. Specific examples highlighted by leadership include calling cable companies, dealing with the DMV, or booking tables at local restaurants that do not provide online reservation options. To access this functionality, consumers must subscribe to a paid tier. Muse pricing starts at $20 per month, which grants users 500 million Muse tokens per week. Meanwhile, heavier AI users can select a $100 monthly plan that provides 3 billion tokens. Wang also noted that while phone calls remain locked behind a paywall for the time being, a recently introduced option to create a Muse email address will soon become available to free users.
Key takeaways
- Meta's Muse AI can now place outbound phone calls to U.S. businesses for users.
- The feature is limited to paid subscribers, with plans starting at $20 per month.
- Muse recently reached a milestone of over 10 million active users.
- Competitors like Google Gemini and startup Instinct offer similar calling features.
Muse is far from the only artificial intelligence agent capable of placing calls to businesses on behalf of human users. The startup Instinct has already been offering a similar option in the marketplace, as has technology giant Google with its Gemini platform. However, while these software tools are undeniably capable of handling the tasks mechanically, the reception on the receiving end of the line has been mixed. Many businesses and human receptionists routinely hang up on phone calls from AI agents the exact moment they identify that a human is not on the other end of the line. Yet, as artificial intelligence systems grow increasingly adept at mimicking a real human voice with natural inflections, telling the difference between a real customer and an automated agent will inevitably become much more difficult for businesses.
Despite these operational and social challenges, the new calling feature addresses a deep-seated consumer frustration regarding modern customer service. For many years, customers have been forced to navigate convoluted phone trees and sit on hold for extended periods waiting for a human representative to pick up the line, only to risk being transferred to yet another department. By deploying an AI assistant equipped with infinite patience to handle these tedious interactions, consumers can bypass traditional phone system hurdles. Whether these voice-enabled features achieve widespread adoption will depend heavily on how businesses choose to adapt their incoming communication channels as automated calling agents become more prevalent across the economy.
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