Meta announces Muse Gadgets, providing an open source ESP32 microchip firmware and a Linux SDK to let users bring Muse to their hardware, like Raspberry Pi 5

Meta's AI agent now runs on custom hardware you build yourself.

Meta is empowering developers to create their own hardware powered by its AI agent, Muse, through a new open-source initiative called Muse Gadgets. This project provides an open-source ESP32 microchip firmware and a Linux SDK, enabling users to integrate Muse into various devices. Meta is demonstrating this capability with its own smart home device, the Muse Home Link, a USB-C powered dongle that connects Muse to home networks for controlling smart devices like TVs and speakers. The company has manufactured 5,000 Muse Home Link units and is distributing them to Muse subscribers. Meta has also established a dedicated Discord community to support developers working on the Muse Gadgets project. The company suggests potential applications such as dedicated E Ink displays, HDMI dongles, or small touchscreen accessories, emphasizing the platform's flexibility for tinkerers.

Meta's move with Muse Gadgets signifies a strategic shift towards fostering an open ecosystem around its AI, mirroring approaches seen in platforms like Raspberry Pi. By releasing firmware and an SDK, Meta is not only decentralizing the deployment of its AI but also actively crowdsourcing hardware innovation. This strategy could accelerate the development of novel AI-powered gadgets and provide Meta with valuable insights into user-driven hardware applications, potentially informing future product roadmaps and expanding its AI's reach beyond its proprietary devices.

The availability of Muse Gadgets on platforms like Raspberry Pi 5 and ESP32 microcontrollers democratizes access to Meta's AI for hobbyists and developers, lowering the barrier to entry for creating custom AI hardware. The distribution of 5,000 Muse Home Link devices to subscribers also serves as a direct incentive and a tangible example of the project's potential. This approach could cultivate a vibrant community of third-party Muse-powered products, eventually competing with or complementing established smart home ecosystems and wearable AI devices.