Meta has made voice and video calling available to all users in the United States through Muse, its consumer artificial intelligence assistant, adding a digital avatar designed to make interactions with AI more conversational and personalized.
The company announced the wider rollout on Thursday, following the feature’s initial introduction at its Connect developer conference in September. The service allows users to speak with Muse in real time through an animated character that responds to questions and can handle tasks on their behalf.
The experience is powered by two new AI technologies, Muse Realtime Avatar and Muse Realtime Voice, which generate the assistant’s speech, expressions and gestures during conversations.
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Unlike conventional voice assistants that communicate primarily through audio, Muse presents users with a visual character. Its default avatar, nicknamed Jolly, is a cute animated figure that users can customize to resemble a human, an animal or another character.
Meta is betting that giving its AI assistant a recognizable appearance will make interactions feel more personal and encourage users to build a stronger connection with the technology. The approach places greater emphasis on the presentation and personality of AI assistants, an area becoming increasingly important as technology companies compete to make their products part of consumers’ everyday routines.
Meta said the avatar uses subtle facial expressions and gestures that correspond with the tone of a conversation. The assistant does not actually see the user during these interactions. Instead, it listens to what the user says and generates responses based on the conversation.
The video experience is not a conventional video call involving two participants who can see each other. The visual component is an animated representation of the AI assistant, designed to make its responses appear more natural and engaging.
The rollout was announced through a company blog post and a post on X by Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, who shared a demonstration of the feature.
In the video, Wang joked with his Muse assistant about his habit of posting memes on X, suggesting that some of his posts might have caused trouble with his boss. His assistant, represented by a fluffy white dog, responded by recommending disclaimers for memes that could be interpreted as Meta endorsing controversial material.
The demonstration illustrated how Meta wants Muse to combine conversational AI with a distinct digital personality. Users can alter the avatar’s appearance, giving them more control over how the assistant is presented during interactions.
The feature also extends the competition among AI developers beyond the quality of text and voice responses. Companies are increasingly exploring ways to make assistants more interactive through real-time speech, visual interfaces, and personalized digital identities.
Meta’s potential commercial value lies in making Muse a frequently used consumer service rather than an AI tool that users open only when they need information. A more engaging interface could encourage longer conversations and repeated use, although the extent to which animated avatars translate into sustained adoption remains to be established.
Wearable Devices Form Part of Meta’s Wider AI Strategy
The expansion of voice and video conversations comes ahead of Meta’s planned launch of a Tamagotchi-like wearable device for Muse before the end of the year.
The proposed device, described as Muse Charm, is expected to feature a small screen displaying the assistant’s digital avatar. Users will be able to speak to Muse through the wearable, receive responses, and ask it to perform tasks.
The hardware would extend the assistant beyond smartphones and computers, allowing Meta to position Muse as a more continuous digital companion. It also signals the company’s interest in integrating AI into devices that users can access without having to reach for their phones.
Meta said real-time conversations are currently supported on mobile devices, the web, and Mac computers. The company plans to extend the feature to its AI Glasses and the upcoming Muse Charm device.
The expansion could strengthen the relationship between Meta’s AI software and its hardware business. By making Muse available across phones, computers, glasses and a dedicated wearable, the company appears to be pursuing a connected ecosystem in which users can interact with the same assistant through different devices.
However, analysts say the success of that approach will be determined by more than the appeal of its animated character. The assistant will need to provide reliable responses, handle tasks accurately and offer clear safeguards around access to personal information and connected services.
Meta’s latest rollout shows how the company is trying to differentiate its consumer AI assistant through voice, visual interaction, and customizable avatars. The planned wearable launch could take that strategy further, placing Muse in a more persistent role in users’ daily activities.