Testing Meta’s Muse AI as a Personal Shopper: A Mixed Experience

Introduction to Muse AI

Meta’s Muse AI has recently made headlines for its rapid growth, surpassing even ChatGPT in downloads on the Apple App Store with over 500,000 installs. Intrigued by its potential, I decided to explore Muse as a personal shopping assistant to see how well it could help me score deals on my favorite items, ranging from comic books to gaming accessories. I set out with three specific goals: to find deals on comic books, video game controllers, and other gaming items.

Experimenting with Shopping Prompts

Before diving into my searches, I asked Muse for its recommended prompts aimed at maximizing shopping efficiency. Here are the seven deal-finding prompts suggested by the AI:

1. Baseline + deal hunt: "Find me a deal on [product]. First, tell me the typical price, then find listings selling below it."
2. Coupon and promo code sweep: "Find active coupon or promo codes for [product or store] and tell me which ones actually work right now."
3. Compare across stores: "Compare prices for [exact product name] across major retailers and show me the cheapest in-stock option including shipping."
4. Set a max budget: "Find the best [product] under $[amount]. Prioritize quality and well-known sellers."
5. Open-box/refurbished/used: "Find me a used or refurbished [product] in good condition. Max budget $[amount]."
6. Facebook Marketplace local deals: "Search Facebook Marketplace for [item] near me under $[amount], local pickup only."
7. Price-drop watch: "Track the price of [product + link] and let me know if it drops below $[amount]."

Using Muse effectively, I tried three of these prompts, hoping to uncover some great deals.

Successes with the Prompts

The first prompt I used was the baseline + deal hunt for a Batman graphic novel, specifically the "Batman by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale Omnibus." Muse returned a compelling option priced at $74.99, representing a 40% discount off its original list price of $125. I quickly made the purchase through a site named CheapGraphicNovels.

Next, I tested the compare across stores prompt for a Midnight Black PS5 DualSense controller. Muse found it listed at Walmart for $67.61, with free shipping, significantly lower than the typical retail price.

Finally, I leveraged the open-box/refurbished/used prompt when searching for a copy of "Garou: Mark of the Wolves" for the PS4. Muse directed me to eBay, where I discovered a used copy priced at $54.99 from a seller boasting a 100% positive feedback score.

Challenges Encountered

Despite the successes, not every prompt yielded positive results. My attempts to find active coupon codes for Amazon and a price-drop watch for an Xbox Series S produced unreliable or non-existent options. The Facebook Marketplace prompt also failed to deliver valid local deals, leaving me disappointed.

Conclusion and Future Prospects

Overall, my experience with Meta's Muse AI as a personal shopping assistant was a mix of triumph and frustration. The successful searches demonstrated the platform's potential for finding great deals, particularly through targeted prompts, while other attempts revealed areas for improvement. With the upcoming holiday shopping season, I remain optimistic about leveraging Muse’s capabilities for future purchases, hoping to refine my shopping strategies further.

Final Thoughts

As Muse continues to develop, it could potentially evolve into an indispensable tool for online shoppers looking to save money. Its ease of use and innovative prompts certainly suggest that its future could hold significant value for consumers everywhere.