Meta Admits Muse Product Design Draws Heavily From OpenClaw
Meta has addressed widespread speculation regarding the similarities between its Muse application and the open-source AI agent OpenClaw. According to TechCrunch, Nat Friedman, head of product at Meta Superintelligence Labs, stated on social media that Muse was heavily inspired as a product by OpenClaw, though he maintained that the software was built from scratch.
Early adopters and developers had previously noted striking similarities between the two systems, including shared configuration file naming conventions and nearly identical content within files such as SOUL.md, which defines an AI agent’s behavior, tone, and boundaries. When questioned about the identical file structures and contents, Friedman indicated that the Meta team believed OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger had executed those design elements precisely right.
Friedman explained that after trying OpenClaw earlier in the year, members of the Meta team adopted the personal agent workspace and sought to build a comparable product focused on safety, security, and scalability for a broader consumer audience. OpenClaw achieved notable breakout success earlier this year, prompting interest from major industry players and leading to its creator joining OpenAI.
The Muse application has experienced strong early adoption, recently reaching the top position on the U.S. App Store and demonstrating rapid initial growth compared to previous artificial intelligence product rollouts. A Meta spokesperson pointed to Friedman’s public statements when asked for additional comment by TechCrunch.
Based on reporting by techcrunch.com.
