Similarities Between Meta's New AI Assistant Muse and OpenClaw Spark Controversy
Meta's new AI assistant Muse, which quickly gained popularity, has drawn attention and faced scrutiny due to its strong similarities to the OpenClaw platform.
Meta's consumer-focused AI assistant Muse quickly climbed to the top of app stores, while its striking similarities to the OpenClaw platform sparked debates on social media and in the tech world.
The Rise of AI Assistants
Following its launch, Meta's new consumer-focused AI assistant Muse managed to reach the top of App Store charts and, according to Apptopia estimates, reached 600,000 daily active users in the United States. Similarly, the AI platform Instinct, whose founder is seeking funding at a $2.5 billion valuation, is making waves in the tech sector.
Claims of Similarity and Social Media Reactions
Over the past week, some users on social media suggested that Meta's new assistant Muse was built directly on top of OpenClaw. The fact that both platforms use the same names in their core files, share common lines in documents defining personality and tone, and feature a similar design has reinforced these claims.
Meta's Statements and Objections
Responding to the claims raised on social media, Nat Friedman, Product Manager at Meta's Superintelligence Labs, denied allegations of direct copying, stating that Muse was built from scratch. However, Friedman openly acknowledged that they drew major inspiration from OpenClaw as a product.
File Names and Design Rationale
Nat Friedman stated that after first using OpenClaw in January, he purchased hundreds of Mac Minis for his team. Stating that their goal with Muse was to build a similar platform that is secure, easy to use, and scalable to billions of people, Friedman attributed the use of common file names and expressions to the fact that OpenClaw's creator had designed those elements absolutely right.
Developments in the AI Sector
Although OpenClaw did not invent the concept of the AI agent, it made this technology functional within a short span of ten months. In February, OpenAI hired Peter Steinberger to work on agents, while in May Google announced investments in consumer AI agents; Apple recorded rapid growth in June, Instinct in August, and Meta introduced Muse in September.