GULF NEWS: Meta is taking an unusual approach to the AI hardware race: instead of deciding what the next AI gadget should look like, it wants people to build their own.

The company has launched Muse Gadgets, an open-source project that allows developers and hobbyists to connect physical hardware to Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent.

Users can programme an off-the-shelf ESP32 board or use a Raspberry Pi or other Linux computer, then connect Muse to displays, buttons, speakers, sensors and other hardware.

Meta has released its device SDKs and firmware as open-source software under the Apache 2.0 licence.

From AI screens to TVs
The company is already suggesting some possibilities.

A developer could build a colour e-ink display that shows a morning briefing, reminders or shopping lists; create a pocket-sized device with a screen and push-to-talk button; or connect Muse to a television through an HDMI device.

Meta also suggests turning a Raspberry Pi into a Muse-powered device that can work with Home Assistant and other Linux applications.

The initiative could give Muse a route out of phones and computers and into a much wider variety of physical devices, without Meta having to manufacture each one itself.

Meta built its own gadget too
Meta has nevertheless produced one piece of hardware to demonstrate the idea.

Called Muse Home Link, the small USB-C-powered gadget connects Muse to a user’s home Wi-Fi network, allowing it to communicate with compatible connected devices.

Community-built skills could, depending on a user's setup, let Muse turn on a light, control a television, or send a document to a printer.

The Home Link uses an Espressif ESP32-C5 chip and supports Wi-Fi 6.

Meta Superintelligence Labs product chief Nat Friedman said the company manufactured an initial batch of 5,000 Home Link devices.

They are being offered free to active Muse subscribers in the United States, limited to one per subscriber and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meta’s product page says the devices are expected to ship in October.

Building an ecosystem around Muse
Muse is Meta’s personal AI agent designed to perform tasks rather than answer questions. It can browse the web, make purchases, create documents and work with connected apps and services.

Opening Muse to DIY hardware could let developers experiment with AI devices Meta itself has not considered.

The company is encouraging makers to share their creations with its Muse Gadgets community, while warning that hardware experimentation can damage devices or void warranties.