OAKLAND, California – October 5, 2026 In a move that signals a significant shift in the tech industry, Meta Platforms has launched Muse, a full-featured AI agent capable of performing unsupervised tasks. Millions have downloaded the free tool in its opening weeks, according to reports, but concerns about security and privacy have arisen, with experts warning of potential chaos and escalating problems. Muse, available on both iOS and Mac systems, requests extensive permissions, including total control of Gmail, calendar, and the entire computer on Macs.
This has raised red flags among security experts, with Patrick Wardle, co-founder of Objective-See, a US nonprofit security foundation, advising users to uninstall Muse altogether after uncovering serious flaws in the app. Ramesh Raskar, an associate professor at MIT studying AI agents, compared the release of AI agents like Muse to ‘releasing billions of cars’ with ‘no rules of the road’ driving through playgrounds.
Calli Schroeder, director of the AI and Human Rights Program at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (Epic), predicted a ‘huge escalation’ of existing bot-related problems, including scalping bots that could worsen ticket scarcity, referencing the 2024 Taylor Swift concert ticket scalping incident where US prices became so high that flying to Europe for shows was cheaper.
Meta spokesperson stated Muse was ‘designed to be safe, secure and private – with built-in protections and user controls.’ The company emphasized ‘safety and security is a huge priority’ after ‘extensive testing.’ The article notes OpenAI announced its own new agent around the same time, signaling a broader industry shift toward AI agents.
Experts warn that the internet, built for humans with limited time and patience, is unprepared for AI agents that operate without restraint, potentially leading to endless loops of human verification, resource hoarding, and small businesses overwhelmed by machine-made pestering. No specific launch date, user count, or financial figure is provided beyond ‘millions downloaded’ and ‘opening weeks.’ The piece frames the current moment as a ‘pivotal’ but chaotic transition, with experts suggesting systemic changes like lottery-based access may be needed, though no such plans are currently in place.
As the AI revolution continues to unfold, it’s essential to remain vigilant and informed about the potential risks and benefits. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
