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Every Muse user gets a free, full-fledged computer in the cloud with its own Ubuntu Linux image.

Every Muse user gets a free, full-featured computer in the cloud, according to David Singleton, VP of Engineering at Meta Superintelligence Labs and former CTO of Stripe. The machine runs a complete Ubuntu Linux image where users can install software, write and compile code, or browse the web. Singleton says the cloud computer was designed so users can do almost anything they'd do on a physical machine under their desk. ChatGPT likely offers similar resources: Users recently discovered that ChatGPT's "Work" mode runs its own virtual machine with 15 GB of RAM and over nine CPU cores.

Sentinel watches for threats while the runtime cell stays open

According to Singleton, the "Muse Secure VM" keeps the workspace separated from sensitive system components. Users and their Muse agent work inside a "Runtime Cell" where activity is unrestricted. A "Sentinel" process running outside the cell monitors sensitive actions. Passwords and credentials are stored outside the cell too.

The Runtime Cell gets its own root filesystem, separate from the host. Anyone poking around won't get privileged access to Meta's infrastructure or other users' data, Singleton says. The architecture also guards against prompt injection.

Singleton says Meta built full transparency into the Runtime Cell on purpose. Users can see every file, from Debian system files to the binaries that run Muse inside the cell. A file explorer sits right in the Library tab, and the Markdown files Muse creates while reasoning through answers are visible, too.

Meta even built in a classic file explorer view, which by today's standards feels surprisingly technical. Less technical users can head to "Settings > Data controls > Download your agent data" to export their stuff.

Muse is turning into a surprise hit

The app pulled in over 500,000 users in its first week and hit number one in the Apple App Store. At Meta Connect 2026, the company added real-time video chats, dedicated email addresses, and the ability to control Mac apps.

Meta was an early player in the AI race with its Llama models but hasn't kept up with frontier models from OpenAI or Anthropic. With Muse, the company is betting that the best product with the widest reach matters more than the best model.

David Singleton