Meta and OpenAI Race to Sell Personal AI Assistants
Experts advise users to combine multiple tools and limit shared data as consumer agents expand beyond simple chatbots.
By Tomas Rahman ·
Agentic artificial intelligence has moved from experimental labs into the daily routines of millions of consumers.
Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and other major technology firms are competing for users who want software that acts on their behalf. These systems handle tasks such as buying groceries, managing to-do lists, and scheduling appointments.
Jose Artigas, a business consultant focused on AI strategy, said no single agent currently performs every possible function. He described the ideal setup as a stack of tools from different vendors. This approach allows users to match specific software to specific needs.
Clara Gigling, founder of Oudae Labs, uses a similar strategy. She assigns one agent to complete a task and another to critique the output. This system of checks and balances helps identify errors and improves the final result.
The market offers several distinct options. Anthropic markets Claude Duet to professionals and small business owners who need help tracking complex workloads. Meta promotes Muse as a tool for personal life, citing benefits in saving money, improving health, and strengthening relationships.
Some agents are designed to function like colleagues or chiefs of staff. OpenAI’s Dots and xAI’s Grok Bot fall into this category. Other tools, such as Muse and Instinct from Spear Street Technology, act more like personal assistants. Artigas recommends Claude Duet for people launching side hustles. He suggests Dots for technical debugging and Instinct for administrative tasks like sending emails or booking travel.
For beginners, Artigas pointed to Muse as an accessible starting point. He noted that the platform provides many prompts early on to guide users through potential tasks. Gigling advised users to identify repetitive online chores they have been avoiding. She recommended delegating these tasks to an agent with detailed instructions and context.
Users must decide how much personal data to share. Agents perform better with access to inboxes, calendars, and financial details. This access allows them to sort emails, book flights, and make purchases. Privacy policies from major companies outline how agents use dedicated cloud computers and manage memory retention.
