AI Agents Compared: Muse, Instinct, Claude Duet, Dots and Grok Bot

AI is shifting from chatbots that answer to agents that act: they book, buy, email and keep working after you close the app. Five launched or expanded since August 2026, and they differ sharply in who they serve and what they cost.

AI agent: AI that takes actions, not just answers.

The five agents

Meta Muse AI

• What it does: Emails, books travel, fills forms and shops from its own cloud computer, using one-time card numbers.

• Target user: US consumers, 18+.

• Ease: 5 — free app; describe goals in plain English.

• Pros: Real free tier. Purchase protection on eligible buys. A second AI reviews actions first.

• Cons: US only. Wants access to email, payments and health apps.

• Cost and plans: Free (weekly cap); Power $20/mo; Max $100/mo.

Instinct

• What it does: Text or call it; it handles chores like DMV bookings, groceries and cancelling subscriptions, including in group chats.

• Target user: Consumers.

• Ease: 4 — no app to learn, but invite-only.

• Pros: Simplest interface. Group chats include non-users.

• Cons: Hard to get in. No published pricing or error rates. Early testers reported unexpected card charges.

• Cost and plans: No fee for now.

Claude Duet (Anthropic)

• What it does: Proactive "chief of staff" on Claude Opus 5.5: morning briefs, flagged issues, drafted replies across 6,000+ apps.

• Target user: Professionals, small-business owners.

• Ease: 4 — reuses your Claude setup; waitlist adds friction.

• Pros: Asks before sending, paying or deleting. Cannot move money between accounts.

• Cons: Checks accounts only every few hours. Weaker at personal tasks. Uses shared Claude limits.

• Cost and plans: Included in Pro ($20/mo) and Max ($100–$200/mo). US preview; no free, Team or Enterprise.

OpenAI Dots

• What it does: Always-on agent on GPT-6 Astra that researches, drafts and codes across 4,000+ apps, via ChatGPT, Slack or Teams.

• Target user: Professionals, businesses.

• Ease: 3 — powerful, but goals and permissions need setup.

• Pros: Largest app ecosystem. Business "specialist Dots" get their own logins.

• Cons: No free or Plus access. One Dot per user. Pro excludes EU, UK, Switzerland.

• Cost and plans: Pro $100–$500/mo; Business Premium $100/seat/mo annual; Enterprise beta.

Grok Bot (xAI)

• What it does: A team of bots sharing a cloud computer, logging into your apps. Teach tasks by recording yourself once.

• Target user: Power users, teams.

• Ease: 3 — no code, but juggling bots and logins is work.

• Pros: Bots work in parallel. Teach-by-demonstration.

• Cons: Beta. xAI models only. Pricing changed three times since August.

• Cost and plans: From $30/mo (X Subscription); $100 and $200 tiers. Enterprise: sales-quoted.

Which one should you pick?

• Beginner: Meta Muse — free and the simplest start.

• Solopreneur: Claude Duet — work-focused at $20, once you clear the waitlist.

• Business team: OpenAI Dots via Business Premium — admin controls plus Slack and Teams.

• Power user: Grok Bot — parallel bots and recorded workflows.

Bottom line

All five are early and can make costly mistakes, so start with low-stakes tasks and keep approvals on. Pick the agent that lives where your work already does.