Meta is building a pocket-sized AI assistant you can carry

Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is working on a new piece of hardware called the Muse Charm. Think of it as a tiny tablet you can carry around on a lanyard — it's basically a screen with no strap, similar in size to a chunky smartwatch.

The device is designed to let you interact with Muse, Meta's new AI agent (an AI that can have conversations and help you with tasks). Instead of unlocking your phone and opening an app, you can just press a fingerprint sensor on the top right of the device and start talking. The Muse Charm has a small camera and several microphones built in, so it can see you and hear you clearly.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off the Muse Charm briefly at Meta's annual conference this week. While we don't know much about pricing or when it will be available, this move signals that Meta believes AI assistants are becoming important enough that people might want a dedicated device just for them — rather than using their phones or computers.

For everyday users, this could mean a simpler way to get AI help while you're on the move. Instead of fumbling with your phone, you'd just tap a button on your wrist and ask your question out loud.