Meta releases Muse Gadgets as open-source DIY AI hardware project

Meta has launched Muse Gadgets, an open-source DIY AI hardware project allowing hobbyists to build devices using ESP32 boards and a Linux SDK to connect to its Muse AI agent. To spur adoption, Meta is giving away 5,000 units of its own USB-C smart home controller, the Muse Home Link, to subscribers in October 2026. This open-source strategy aims to help Meta experiment with AI hardware form factors as competitors like Apple and OpenAI develop rival devices.

Meta's open-source Muse Gadgets project

• ▪The code for Meta's Muse Gadgets is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license, and Meta has established a Discord community to discuss the project
• ▪Meta announced Muse Gadgets, an open-source project allowing hobbyists to build AI hardware using ESP32 firmware, a Linux software development kit, and components like displays, buttons, sensors, and actuators to connect to Meta's Muse AI agent
• ▪Meta's open-source approach for its Muse Gadgets DIY hardware project is intended to help the company learn which hardware form factors consumers prefer, as the industry has not yet settled on a standard AI hardware design

DIY project ideas and safety warnings

• ▪Meta suggested DIY projects for Muse Gadgets, its open-source DIY AI hardware project, such as loading Meta's Muse AI agent on a color E Ink display, adding it to an HDMI stick, or putting it on a small touchscreen device
• ▪Meta cautioned users to "Proceed at your own risk!" when building their own DIY Muse Gadgets, Meta's open-source AI hardware project

Muse Home Link distribution and capabilities

• ▪Users can claim a waitlist spot for Meta's Muse Home Link, which uses community-built skills to control devices like lights, TVs, and printers
• ▪Meta Superintelligence Labs' Nat Friedman announced the manufacturing of 5,000 Muse Home Link units, a USB-C gadget connecting Meta's Muse AI agent to a home network to control devices via HTTPS

Debatable claims

• ▪DIY smart home AI gadgets pose unacceptable security risks to home networks
• ▪Open-sourcing DIY hardware is an effective way for Meta to discover consumer AI preferences
• ▪Dedicated AI hardware gadgets are unnecessary given the capabilities of smartphones and smart glasses
• ▪Meta should bear liability for security flaws in community-built Muse hardware skills