Meta and OpenAI Design Cute Hardware for AI Agents

Meta plans to launch its Muse Charm, a pendant-like keychain device featuring a screen with its cuddly Muse AI agent, ahead of the upcoming holiday shopping season. Meanwhile, OpenAI is collaborating with former Apple designer Jony Ive on a physical device slated for release no earlier than February 2027. This hardware push follows OpenAI's recent unveiling of Dots, a software agent platform featuring customizable colored blobs with eyes, which CEO Sam Altman suggested could eventually transition into physical hardware.

These initiatives represent a strategic shift after dedicated AI gadgets like the Humane AI Pin and the Friend companion failed to gain market traction. Instead of launching hardware cold, Meta and OpenAI are priming the market by introducing their software agents first. The goal is to build user utility and emotional attachment to characters like Muse and Dots before asking consumers to purchase dedicated physical devices. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg pitched the Muse Charm as the fastest way to interact with the assistant and show it your surroundings if you do not wear smart glasses.

For developers and product designers, this shift highlights a transition from standalone utility apps to persistent, multimodal companions. OpenAI is positioning Dots as an "always-on helper" capable of handling complex, long-term tasks proactively. Thibault Sottiaux, OpenAI's head of core products, envisions these agents blurring the lines of interaction by integrating directly into daily communication channels like email, text, and phone calls. However, both companies still face technical hurdles, as evidenced by recent hiccups including a botched Dots voice demo and problematic behavior from Meta's Muse on Facebook Marketplace.