Meta's AI personal assistant, Muse, has gained popularity, with millions of users connecting it to their bank accounts, messages, and health data. Recent research has revealed insights into how Muse organizes and presents information. Multiple researchers extracted internal files from Muse, providing details on its operating instructions. Meta stated that it intended for these files to be accessible for transparency purposes.
Independent AI researcher Karan Joshi was able to extract extensive instructions and prompts from Muse by using its chat interface. Joshi shared his findings with WIRED. One notable instruction indicates that Muse can create a profile for every person in the user's life, compiling data on family, friends, colleagues, and others.
Muse's functionality involves using its memory to collect information about relationships and suggest ways to improve them. Joshi noted that the system aims to understand users' relationships, which he described as potentially unsettling. The documentation outlines that profiles may begin with minimal information and expand over time, including sections on facts, history, and relationship dynamics.
The instructions emphasize that Muse should rely on available evidence and avoid fabricating details. It can record significant dates and relationship histories, including events and milestones. Additionally, it tracks relationship dynamics, such as closeness and areas for improvement.
Carissa Véliz, an associate professor at Oxford's Institute for Ethics in AI, highlighted concerns about the amount of information users provide to AI systems compared to what they receive in return. Muse is designed to operate on a dedicated virtual machine for each user, ensuring data privacy. Users can manage their data and confirm actions before completion.
Meta spokesperson Daniel Roberts stated that Muse gathers context based on public information and user-shared data, enhancing its ability to assist users effectively. Miranda Bogen, director of the Center for Democracy and Technology’s AI Governance Lab, noted that Muse emphasizes personal relationships more than competing systems. She expressed concerns about the extensive data solicited from users, which could lead to increased knowledge about them.
The article concludes with an invitation for readers to share feedback and emphasizes the importance of digital security.