In a column for The Verge, Sean Hollister reports that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is preparing to sell a squishy AI helper pendant called the Muse Charm for the holidays, but argues that buyers can build a better version at home using a $50 developer kit and custom code.
Building the Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.75C Pendant
Hollister writes that he paid $50 to have a 1.75-inch touchscreen computer pendant drop-shipped from China, specifically the Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.75C. Meta officially sanctions the push-to-talk AI devkit as a suggested device for building a Muse Gadget that connects directly to the Muse AI cloud using open-source code and tokens. Out of the box, however, the silver metal pocket watch felt largely useless. Setup required plugging the device into a PC, pointing Claude at Meta’s GitHub, and pairing it to the Muse phone app. Initial responses from Muse were slow, lacked spoken audio out loud, and only displayed a few words onscreen at a time without a full message history view.
Programming Custom Features With Claude Code
After a few sessions using Claude Code, Hollister reports fixing the device’s functional limitations. Claude built a conversation history page for swiping through responses and integrated a British AI voice from ElevenLabs to speak answers aloud. The updated setup includes a remote camera viewfinder that controls a phone to take pictures from across the room with a live preview over Bluetooth. Additional programming added a batch of avatars akin to those shown at Meta Connect, complete with a Tamagotchi-style minigame featuring four levels of hunger, boredom, and dirt.
Evaluating the Utility of Dedicated AI Hardware
Hollister notes that while Claude quickly added a working pocket watch face and video playback clips of Mark Zuckerberg introducing the Muse Charm, the underlying security remains questionable. The author expresses a lack of trust in Meta or its Muse agent with personal networks, citing precautions like connecting the device to guest Wi-Fi. Ultimately, the essay questions whether consumers who know how to code would be better off buying a development kit rather than purchasing the official Muse Charm when it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Muse Charm Devkit
How much does the Waveshare ESP32-S3 1.75C devkit cost?
The device costs $50 and is drop-shipped from China as a push-to-talk AI devkit sanctioned by Meta for building Muse Gadgets.
What software tools were used to customize the pendant?
Claude Code was used to reprogram the device, integrate an ElevenLabs AI voice, build a conversation history page, and add custom avatars with a Tamagotchi-style minigame.
What security precautions were taken during testing?
The reviewer connected the gadget to guest Wi-Fi from the start to protect the home network, noting concerns after reports of a reviewer’s home address leaking.
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