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Trevor H
Trevor H

Posted on Originally published at trevorheshka.com

Muse vs. ChatGPT dots vs. Claude Duet vs. Grok Bot: The New Always-On AI Agents Compared

#ai #agents #productivity #security

Meta Muse, ChatGPT dots, Claude Duet and Grok Bot icons

Four companies, one idea: an AI that has its own computer and keeps working after you close the app.

Introduction

Between September and October 2026, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic and x.ai each shipped a "personal agent." These aren't chat windows. Each one runs on its own cloud machine, connects to your apps, works in the background, and checks in with you before taking sensitive actions. I work in IT support, cybersecurity and full-stack development in Nanaimo, BC, and I use one of these tools (Grok Bot) every day. Here's how the four compare, using only what the vendors and reputable outlets have published.

At a glance

Meta Muse ChatGPT dots Claude Duet Grok Bot
Maker Meta OpenAI Anthropic x.ai (SpaceXSI docs)
Launched Sep 8, 2026 Sep 29, 2026 Oct 21, 2026 (research preview) Beta
Model Muse Spark GPT-6 Astra Claude Opus 5.5 Not specified here
Where it runs Muse Secure VM (dedicated cloud computer with its own browser) Its own cloud computer and browser; can connect to your laptop with permission Cloud VM with its own browser (you can't watch it live) Persistent cloud computer with browser, filesystem and terminal, shared by all your Bots
How you reach it Muse app (iOS/Android), muse.ai, WhatsApp ChatGPT desktop/web/mobile, Slack, Teams iOS/Android app, claude.ai Desktop (macOS/Windows/Linux), iOS, Android
Integrations Email, calendar, shopping, fitness and more; Stripe Link checkout 4,000+ apps through plugins 6,000+ connectors/plugins in the Claude Marketplace Connectors as plugins, plus computer use for everything else
Pricing Free; $20 and $100/mo tiers Pro (from $100/mo), Business Premium; Enterprise beta Included in Pro/Max during preview Included with paid Cursor plans or a linked SuperGrok subscription
Availability US, 18+ Pro not in EU/EEA, Switzerland or UK at launch US only, by waitlist See plans
Best for Everyday consumers: errands, shopping, travel Teams already working in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams Professionals and small business owners Technical users who want several persistent agents and a real workstation

Meta Muse: the consumer errand-runner

Muse is Meta's bid for the mass market. You message it like a person, in its own app or in WhatsApp. It can open a browser, fill out forms, negotiate, and keep working toward long-term goals after you close the app. Meta's security approach is a dedicated Muse Secure VM and a separate "Sentinel" agent, and Muse asks for approval before it sends an email or makes a purchase. Checkout goes through Stripe's Link, which uses one-time cards. It has a free tier, which none of the others offer.

ChatGPT dots: the always-on colleague

OpenAI's dots are "always-on agents" powered by GPT-6 Astra. Each dot has its own cloud computer that you can open at any time to inspect its work. You can also let it use your laptop. When idle, dots do "proactive research" with read-only access to the apps you've connected. Their strongest point is reach: they work in ChatGPT, Slack and Microsoft Teams, and Enterprise admins get detailed permission controls. The catch is cost. Consumer access starts at the $100/mo Pro tier.

Claude Duet: the small-business chief of staff

Anthropic is aiming Duet at professionals and small businesses, not errands. It brings over your existing Claude memory, skills and connectors. Every morning it sends a brief from your email and calendar. It returns larger jobs as files, such as decks, dashboards and financial models. Its guardrails are the strictest of the group: it asks before sending, paying, signing or deleting, and some actions (trading securities, moving money between accounts) are blocked even if you approve them. In the preview, you can't pick the model or watch its browser, and it checks your accounts every few hours rather than constantly.

Grok Bot: a team of persistent Bots

Grok Bot works more like a small team than a single assistant. You create named Bots with jobs. They keep memory, files and browser sessions across sessions, run in parallel, message each other, and can save a workflow you demonstrate as a skill that reruns on a schedule. All of your Bots share one persistent cloud computer with a browser, filesystem and terminal. The docs say that sharing is a convenience, not a security boundary: anything on that computer is available to every Bot on your account. Your local computer stays separate unless you enable access and approve it.

My take as a hands-on user

I use Grok Bot daily, so I know it best. I haven't tested the other three myself, so treat my notes on them as reading, not reviews. What I value in Grok Bot is the persistent computer with a real terminal and filesystem, because a lot of IT and development work happens there. I'd also point out the trade-off its own docs describe: a shared computer means shared credentials, so be careful what you put on it.

As a cybersecurity person, I'd judge all four on the same things:

  1. What can it do without asking? All four say they require approval for sensitive actions. Read where each one draws that line.
  2. What did you connect? The more access an agent has, the more useful it is, and the more damage a mistake or a prompt injection can do (Vox makes this point well).
  3. Where does your data live? Each one runs on a vendor cloud machine. Check the plan and region rules before you connect work accounts.

My rough guide: Muse if you want a free consumer helper, dots if your work already lives in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams, Duet if you run a small business on Claude, and Grok Bot if you want several persistent agents with a real workstation.

Sources

More on IT, security and AI from Nanaimo, BC: trevorheshka.com

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