Meta Unveils Pocket-Sized AI Gadget Muse Charm: an Assistant With an Avatar That Takes Actions for the User

At its annual Meta Connect 2026 event, Mark Zuckerberg announced Muse Charm — a compact wearable built specifically for quick access to a personal AI. The company is trying to find a new hardware form factor for neural networks so that users no longer have to unlock their smartphone and open apps for every everyday request.

Visually, the gadget resembles a bulky smartwatch body without a strap. It is meant to be carried in a pocket or worn around the neck on a lanyard. The device’s screen displays a digital avatar called Jolly — the visual embodiment of the AI agent. Journalists at tech outlets have already dubbed the new product a “Tamagotchi” for the neural network era, though Meta itself avoids that analogy and positions the gadget purely as a functional assistant. To start a conversation, the owner simply places a finger on the biometric sensor in the upper corner of the body.

A Voice Model and Actions on the User’s Behalf

Inside the Charm runs a new voice AI model that recognizes speech and generates responses in real time with minimal delay. But the device’s main value lies in the capabilities of the Muse agent itself, launched earlier in September.

Unlike classic text chatbots, the built-in algorithm has agent capabilities: it can perform real tasks in other services on the user’s behalf. It can be asked to sort through email, make changes to a calendar, book tickets or pay for purchases. Before the Charm, these features were available only inside Meta’s software and smart glasses, and now they are moving into a separate specialized device.

A Prototype With No Price or Full Specs

Despite the high-profile announcement, the Muse Charm is not yet ready for retail and exists only as working prototypes. The concepts shown reveal a built-in camera and microphone openings, but the company is not disclosing the full list of sensors, the battery capacity or the connectivity standards.

According to Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s engineers plan to refine the gadget and begin the first shipments in time for the December 2026 holiday season. The exact retail price of the device and the subscription options for Muse services will be announced later.