Meta’s newest AI-powered agent app, Muse, has climbed to the No. 2 spot on the US iOS App Store following its recent launch, signaling notable but slower consumer adoption compared to prior Meta AI app debuts and competitors like ChatGPT.
- Muse hits No. 2 on US iOS App Store shortly after launch
- Downloads trail Meta’s Threads, Meta AI, and ChatGPT launches
- Competition intensifies with startups like Instinct innovating AI agents
What happened
Meta launched its AI agent app Muse in the United States, where it has now been downloaded more than 83,000 times on iOS, placing it at No. 2 on the US App Store’s Top Charts. This growth represents a strong start but is slower compared to Meta's prior significant app launches, such as Threads which saw over 4.3 million downloads and Meta AI with 108,000 downloads on launch day. Muse’s Android version has not generated comparable traction, ranking at No. 338 in Google Play’s Productivity category.
Muse is also accessible through other platforms like the web and WhatsApp, though those numbers are not included in current app store estimates. The app is part of Meta’s broader ambition to lead in consumer-facing agentic AI, where AI agents perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users. Meta views this as a transformative step akin to its rebranding to reflect new technological priorities.
Why it matters
The performance of Muse is significant because it indicates how consumers are responding to the next wave of AI technology, where personal assistant agents take a more active role in daily interactions and productivity. Despite slower initial uptake, Muse’s climb in the charts suggests continuing momentum and interest in Meta’s vision of agentic AI. The app launch reflects Meta’s strategic bet on this market segment as a key future driver of its platform ecosystem and revenue growth.
Furthermore, Muse’s launch timing and Meta’s legal challenges, including a recent $18 billion multistate settlement related to consumer harms, emphasize the importance of consumer trust and data privacy in AI adoption. Meta’s ability to differentiate Muse and address these concerns will be critical amid growing competition from aggressive startups like Instinct, which is innovating with social networking features for AI agents and rapid feature rollout backed by substantial funding.
What to watch next
Following Muse’s initial performance, close attention should be paid to how Meta expands availability beyond the US and improves Android uptake. The company's success in encouraging deeper user engagement and leveraging Muse’s capabilities across platforms including WhatsApp and web will be critical. Meta’s approach to balancing data privacy concerns while offering powerful agent features will also influence longer-term adoption.
Meanwhile, competition in consumer agentic AI will intensify as startups like Instinct introduce innovative integrations such as location-sharing, email services, and a novel social graph that enable agents to coordinate activities among users’ real-world contacts. How Muse evolves its own features and ecosystem to compete in this dynamic landscape will help define the battle for dominance in AI agents targeting mainstream consumers.