Meta's Muse hits 730,000 downloads ahead of Connect 2026

Meta Connect 2026, scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24, arrives at a moment when the company's stock has already surged more than 11% in a single day, largely on the reception of its Muse AI assistant. Before that jump, shares had gained only a little more than 2% so far this year, which suggests the recent rally is tied tightly to Muse-related enthusiasm. Muse was launched on Sept. 8 and quickly shot to the top of the Apple App Store, racking up 730,000 downloads in roughly five days and overtaking ChatGPT as the top free iOS app in the U.S., according to Sensor Tower data cited by CNBC.

The product showcase itself is expected to feature new smart glasses, a VR headset and updates to Meta's metaverse push, with Muse likely a centerpiece of the keynote. Smart glasses usually steal the spotlight, but this year they come with growing privacy pushback against AI-enabled glasses, and there are reports Meta could introduce camera-free glasses to address that concern. A mixed-reality headset dubbed Project Phoenix may also get a preview, though it reportedly won't ship until 2027. New generations of Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses could receive significant attention, but due to the ongoing RAM supply crunch, they could carry higher prices than the current lineup.

The open question is whether Connect can provide another catalyst or whether much of the near-term optimism is already reflected in the stock. Muse is barely two weeks old, and several AI products have generated significant initial excitement only to see engagement fade, so whether it becomes a habit or a curiosity is still unresolved. Privacy and security concerns could also become an obstacle — Amazon has already blocked Muse from accessing its shopping site because of such concerns. For Meta investors and product teams, the test is whether Muse's early download spike translates into lasting engagement and whether the hardware unveiled at Connect can sustain the momentum.