Meta has begun opening requests for early access to the latest features in its Muse AI app, signaling that the company wants its most engaged users to test the next phase of its AI strategy before a wider public launch. The company said Friday that people can ask Muse to add them to the list for early access, following a series of product announcements made this week at Meta's Connect 2026 developer conference.
To join the program, Meta posted a prompt on X that users can share with Muse. The message is simple and direct: "Can you let the Muse team know I want to be part of the Muse early access program?" According to Meta, sending that prompt through the app will register interest in the company's early access initiative.
The approach stands out in a market where many technology companies typically rely on tightly controlled beta groups or randomized A/B testing to compare performance and gather feedback. Meta, by contrast, appears to be deliberately targeting AI enthusiasts first — a group that often experiments with multiple AI assistants, understands the competitive landscape, and is quick to spot both strengths and shortcomings in new tools.
That strategy may offer Meta a practical advantage. Early adopters can provide detailed feedback on usability, reliability and feature quality, while also helping generate momentum around the product among the users most likely to influence broader adoption. In a crowded AI market, where companies are racing to add more capable agents and more seamless integrations, getting the attention of power users can be as important as the features themselves.
Meta used Connect 2026 to tease a broad expansion of Muse's capabilities. Among the most notable additions is a digital avatar for Muse that users will be able to video chat with, suggesting a more conversational and visually interactive experience than the app's current format. The company also highlighted a larger set of shopping partnerships and connectors, indicating that Muse is being positioned not just as a chatbot, but as a more practical assistant that can help users navigate commerce and connected services.
Another major update is the expansion of the Muse Mac app. Meta said the desktop version will soon be able to use a user's computer to complete various tasks, a sign that the company is pushing Muse toward agentic behavior — software that can take actions on a user's behalf rather than simply respond to prompts. That kind of functionality has become one of the most closely watched frontiers in consumer AI, as companies compete to build assistants that can move from conversation into execution.
Meta also said Muse will be coming to its lineup of AI glasses, where users will be able to interact with the agent by speaking a wake word and then issuing a command. The glasses integration suggests Meta wants Muse to become a cross-device assistant, available not only on phones and computers but also in wearable form, where voice interaction could make the experience feel more immediate and ambient.
The early access program is likely to serve as a testing ground for all of these features, giving Meta a chance to refine them with feedback from users who are already deeply invested in AI products. It also reflects the company's broader effort to keep pace in a fast-moving sector where product cycles are short and user expectations are rising quickly.
For Meta, the decision to open the door first to enthusiasts rather than a broad random sample may be as much about competition as it is about product development. The users most eager to try Muse's newest tools are also the ones most likely to compare them against rival AI apps and agents. If Meta can win them over early, it may strengthen Muse's position before the features reach a wider audience.