Meta Opens Muse Early Access, Adds Smart Glasses Visual Data Opt-Out

TechCrunch reported that after Meta announced a host of new Muse features at its Connect 2026 developer conference this week, the company posted a link on X to a prompt that, when shared with Muse, logs interest in the early access program. The prompt says: "Can you let the Muse team know I want to be part of the Muse early access program?"

TechCrunch said Meta is looking for AI enthusiasts to try its features first, instead of relying only on select beta users or a randomized A/B test group. The report said that crowd tends to use multiple AI apps and agents and has a good understanding of the market, a tactic that could help Meta stay ahead of the competition.

Meta teased several new features at Connect, including a digital avatar for Muse that users will be able to video chat with, more shopping partnerships and connectors, and an expansion of the Muse Mac app, which will soon be able to use your computer to complete various tasks, according to TechCrunch. The company also said Muse would come to Meta's lineup of AI glasses, so users can interact with the agent by speaking a wake word and then issuing a command.

Engadget reported that the smart glasses opt-out setting is now available within the Meta AI app. Meta has begun notifying glasses owners with a pop-up that says: "Your AI glasses can translate a menu, identify a plant and more," and "You can opt out of providing visual data from these experiences to Meta for product improvement. If you opt out, that data isn't stored after processing."

Users can find the setting by navigating to the settings for their glasses, selecting "Meta AI" and scrolling down to "store visual data from AI experiences," Engadget reported. The glasses must be out of their case and connected to a phone to change the setting. Owners of multiple pairs must repeat the step for each pair.

Opting out may prevent users from using certain glasses features, including "visual reminders," such as looking at an object and asking Meta AI to remind you to buy it next week, according to Engadget. It is not clear if any other features are affected.

Meta also published a more detailed description of how it uses visual data in a help center article that explicitly mentions the possibility of human review, Engadget reported. "When you use AI experiences on your Meta glasses – like asking about something you're looking at or using live AI – Meta stores the resulting visual data and may use it to power glasses features and improve Meta products," the company said. "This includes the process of training and improving AI models, which may be automated or manual (human)."

Meta said it only stores visual data collected while using certain AI features, including Live AI, and that visual data does not include "photos and videos you capture with your glasses when the capture LED is on," according to Engadget.

Editor's Summary

Meta is taking early access requests for new Muse AI features, including a digital avatar, shopping connectors, an expanded Mac app and integration with Meta's AI glasses. At the same time, it has begun letting smart glasses users opt out of visual data use for AI training, though opting out may limit some features and human review remains possible.