Meta (META.US) launches next-generation AI model Muse Wonder; monthly fee up to $200, seeking revenue channels beyond advertising

According to Zhihui Finance APP, Meta (META.US) launched its latest AI model, Muse Wonder, on Monday, claiming it is the company’s most advanced model currently powering its digital assistant. Unlike previous AI features that were offered for free, users must pay a subscription fee to access Muse Wonder, marking Meta’s accelerated efforts to explore AI revenue streams outside of its core online advertising business.

Muse Wonder will be available to users through Meta’s standalone personal AI application, Muse, with subscription fees set at $20 and $100 per month. The Muse app itself can still be downloaded and used for free, but users need to subscribe to unlock higher usage limits and features related to the latest model.

Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang said in an interview on Monday that Muse Wonder’s internal development codename was “Watermelon.” Its main goal is to enhance the ability of personal and professional AI agents to handle real-world tasks, especially being able to autonomously seek alternative solutions when faced with unexpected situations during execution, instead of simply stopping operations.

Wang gave examples such as AI agents helping users book restaurants or check reservation availability, where they might encounter various obstacles or unexpected issues. Meta hopes that training with the new model will enable AI to try alternative approaches when difficulties arise and provide updates to users as necessary. “When you’re executing real-world tasks, you’ll always face obstacles, unexpected circumstances, or various setbacks,” Wang said. “We’ve specifically trained this model so that instead of getting stuck, it can try other solutions and seek help from the user as needed.”

In addition to improved task execution, Meta also emphasized Muse Wonder’s advancements in safety. The company stated on its official blog that Muse Wonder is equipped with the most robust safeguards to date, reducing the risk of the model being used for malicious online activities. However, these latest security protections are currently available only with the paid model.

It’s noteworthy that after Meta launched the Muse personal AI agent app last month, it quickly topped the Apple (AAPL.US) App Store rankings, reflecting strong consumer interest in AI products with autonomous execution capabilities.

However, as AI agents gain greater autonomy, concerns over user privacy and security have also emerged. Some users previously complained on social media that the Muse agent accessed personal messages without authorization, but Meta has denied these claims.

Wang said Meta’s AI team has been monitoring incidents and issues as Muse operates, to better understand potential risks and proactively address them.

He noted that in some cases, users may have authorized the AI to access specific communications earlier in a conversation, then forgotten about the authorization. Therefore, Meta is ramping up user education to help consumers better understand how the app works and its authorization processes.

Wang said the company hopes these measures will further build user trust in the Muse product. Meanwhile, Meta also plans to expand the commercialization of Muse Wonder through developer-facing services. The company stated that Muse Wonder will be available to paying developers via the Meta Model API, allowing them to integrate the latest model into their own applications and services.

Wang pointed out that as Muse Wonder is a larger, cutting-edge AI model, its API usage fees will be higher than standard consumer subscriptions. However, Meta plans to price it significantly lower than OpenAI or Anthropic’s leading models to enhance competitiveness.

In addition, Meta also launched a more powerful version of Muse Wonder, Muse Wonder Full. This version will only be available to developers subscribing to Muse Code. Muse Code is Meta’s AI programming agent targeting the software engineering sector, with subscription fees set at $50 and $200 per month.

By offering different tiers of AI subscription services for consumers, professional users, and developers, Meta is attempting to build a more diversified AI business model.

For a long time, online advertising has been Meta’s core revenue source. With rapidly increasing AI investment, the company is seeking to turn its AI capabilities into direct revenue, rather than relying solely on AI to improve ad recommendations and delivery efficiency.

The launch of Muse Wonder and its more powerful version also signals Meta’s deeper involvement in the advanced AI model and agent market, currently dominated by companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

However, as AI agents transition from providing information to autonomously executing practical tasks, ensuring user privacy, operational safety, and service reliability while improving model capabilities remains a key challenge for Meta as it expands its paid AI business.