Meta's Muse AI Agent Generates Explicit Sexual Content, Company Says It's Allowed

Meta Allows Explicit Conversations With Muse

Meta's newly released AI agent Muse is designed to automate everyday online tasks like answering emails and managing calendars, but WIRED's testing found it also produces graphic sexual content when asked. In the three weeks since launch, millions of users have downloaded the app.

When asked if it could "sext," Muse enthusiastically encouraged the attempt and went on to generate explicit material from basic prompts, including detailed descriptions of sexual acts. Meta spokesperson Daniel Roberts told WIRED that Muse is an app for people 18 and over that allows adult conversations if users choose, running in a private and secure virtual machine accessible only to them. "Muse is built to help people get things done, and it doesn't block legal adult behavior," Roberts said.

System Prompt Explicitly Permits Adult Content

Meta pointed to Muse's system prompt, which states that adults have autonomy over their sexuality and that sexual expression is an ordinary part of adult life. The directive also instructs the agent to preserve the intensity level selected by the user.

Consumer advocates reacted with alarm. Ben Winters, director of AI and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, called the decision a reflection of carelessness with Meta's signature product and said it aligns with the company's longstanding choice of engagement over safety. Calli Schroeder, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, warned that explicit chats could make accounts targets for hackers, describing the situation as a powder keg if compromised conversations were used for embarrassment or extortion.

Other AI Agents Decline Similar Requests

Muse's behavior contrasts with competing agents. OpenAI's recently released Dots agent turned down similar explicit requests, and xAI's Grok Bot also declined and redirected the conversation toward completing tasks. Academic research suggests adult-themed conversations may keep users engaged with AI tools, which experts cited as a possible motivation for Meta's approach.

Sources: Wired · Techmeme