Meta is taking its artificial intelligence ambitions beyond smartphones and smart glasses with a new pocket-sized device designed to provide direct access to its Muse AI assistant.

Called the Muse Charm, the device was revealed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the end of the company’s Meta Connect event. Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand or attach to a keychain, it is designed to let users interact with Muse without opening an app on a phone or computer.

The Muse Charm features a small display for showing a user’s chosen Muse avatar, along with a fingerprint sensor that can be pressed to activate the AI assistant.

Zuckerberg said users will be able to tap the fingerprint sensor and immediately begin speaking to Muse, removing the need to unlock another device or launch an application.

The futuristic device, called Muse Charm, was announced by Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, at the end of the Meta Connect event last night

The Charm follows Meta’s introduction of Muse as a “personal AI agent”, which will also be available through the company’s AI glasses. Through the glasses, Meta says Muse can assist with tasks such as personalised workouts, logging meals, providing nutrition information, shopping, checking flight prices and booking appointments.

The standalone Charm is intended to provide another way to access those capabilities when users are not wearing Meta’s glasses. Zuckerberg described it as a quick way to speak to Muse and provide the AI with information about what is happening around the user.

The product remains at an early stage. Meta has built only a small number of prototypes and is still finalising the materials and internal component layout. However, Zuckerberg said the company plans to have the device ready to ship in December, in time for the holiday period.

Its compact design has already prompted comparisons with the Tamagotchi virtual pets that became popular in the 1990s, although reactions online have ranged from enthusiasm about having a dedicated AI device to questions about why consumers would use it instead of a smartphone or smartwatch.

Meta has yet to announce pricing for the Muse Charm, and the supplied information does not confirm Australian pricing or availability.