Meta plans advanced 'agentic' AI assistant for users, FT reports (May 5)

(Corrects paragraph 4 of May 5 story to say OpenClaw is an open-source project supported by OpenAI, and is not owned by OpenAI)

May 5 (Reuters) - Meta is building a highly personalized artificial intelligence assistant to carry out everyday tasks for its billions of users, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, as the company faces investor scrutiny over its escalating AI spending.

The social media giant is developing agentic tools, including an advanced digital assistant powered by its new Muse Spark AI model, the FT said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The assistant is being tested internally by a group of staff and the goal was to develop a product similar to OpenClaw, according to the report.

OpenClaw, an open-source project supported by OpenAI, can connect several hardware and software tools and learn from the data produced with much less human intervention than a chatbot.

Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The Facebook and Instagram parent raised its annual capital spending forecast late last month, signaling plans to pour billions more into AI infrastructure even as it confronts potential losses from a global youth backlash against social media.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid)