British rock band Muse have changed their social media handles following the launch of Meta’s new AI agent, also called Muse, sparking an unusual clash between one of the world’s best-known rock acts and one of the tech industry’s biggest AI products.
The band previously operated under the straightforward @muse handle on Instagram and Facebook, but now directs fans to @museband on Meta’s platforms. On X and TikTok, the group has also adopted variations including @MusetheBand, further distinguishing its online presence from Meta’s AI product.
Meta introduced its Muse AI agent on 8 September as a personal assistant for tasks like email, travel, shopping, and scheduling, currently available in the US via a dedicated app and WhatsApp. Although the launch sparked speculation that Meta reclaimed the band’s longtime handles, there is no public evidence confirming that Meta forcibly took the handles from the band. In fact, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Muse began using @museband months before Meta’s official unveiling.
This highlights a growing issue as tech firms launch products named after established cultural brands. Muse, formed in Devon in 1994, has maintained a major online presence for decades. Searches for “Muse” on Meta platforms may now show its AI product alongside the band behind Absolution, Black Holes and Revelations, and Will of the People. For now, fans must search for @museband on Instagram and Facebook.
