Meta’s AI assistant, Muse, has sparked a mix of intrigue and concern due to its capability to interact with Apple services like Messages, Calendar, and Notes via its Mac app. Despite its advanced functionality, Muse has a peculiar inability to explain how it operates, leading to some confusion and unease among users.
User Concerns Over Muse’s Access
Jason Aten, a contributing editor at Inc Magazine, recently shared on Threads how Muse inquired about a conversation within his Messages app. This was puzzling since Aten claimed he never authorised Muse to view his conversations. When he probed, Muse responded that it only saw notification previews, not the message history, and admitted it could not disclose the details of how notifications were accessed, citing it as something linked with the device sync through the Mac app.
Meta Lab’s Response
David Singleton from Meta Superintelligence Labs responded to Aten’s post, addressing the concerns about Muse’s access. Singleton outlined the permissions necessary for the Mac app to read messages — all of which are optional features. Singleton clarified that Muse doesn’t ‘watch’ Mac notifications but uses data sync from Messages only when a user explicitly enables it. He admitted that Muse’s confusion in explaining its functionalities was due to its limited understanding, assuring users that Meta is striving to enhance Muse’s self-awareness.
In Aten’s interaction with Muse, when it mentioned syncing “device notifications”, it was inaccurately depicting the feature’s operation. This confusion is recognised by us and we’re committed to rectifying Muse’s ability to coherently describe its processes.
This scenario points to a broader issue with AI chatbots preferring to offer user-friendly explanations rather than unveiling the complexity of their functions. As AI assistants become more integrated into daily technology use, understanding and transparency about their operations remain critical for user trust and privacy.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.