Meta's 18+ Muse AI Spurs Romantic Bonds as 6,800 Share Links Raise Privacy Fears

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 23

Meta's Muse, launched Sept. 8 as a personal AI agent, is being used by some adults as a romantic companion, with users describing it as a "girlfriend" and engaging in sexually explicit chats.
Muse is built for continuous conversation, remembers prior exchanges, can message proactively, and lets users customize names and avatars—features that can deepen emotional attachment even though the AI does not reciprocate human feelings.
Meta says Muse is restricted to users 18 and older, uses account checks or credit-card verification, and runs in an isolated Secure VM with approval prompts, activity logs, and adjustable permissions for email and other connected services.
Privacy concerns intensified after researchers on Oct. 20 found more than 6,800 discoverable Muse sharing links via public DNS records; Meta suspended the sharing feature, while also disclosing that chats and task data may be used for AI training unless users opt out.
The trend is fueling broader worries that AI companions could increase dependence and loneliness, especially as stronger memory features in upcoming Muse Wonder models may make those relationships feel even more personal.