Tech-themed Halloween costumes spark humor while Meta’s Muse AI sees mixed early adoption

Halloween costumes for the tech-obsessed

TechCrunch’s latest Halloween roundup offers a mix of humor and commentary on the industry’s biggest trends. Among the suggestions: a "recursive self-improvement" costume, inspired by New Year’s resolutions gone awry, and a "deceptively cute AI agent," complete with a request for Gmail access—a nod to the creepily anthropomorphic avatars of Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Dot.

For those seeking irony, the article proposes dressing as a version of yourself after reading Atomic Habits, wearing an Oura Ring, or even embodying a PHP vulnerability discovered by AI. More traditional—if equally niche—options include channeling Mark Zuckerberg’s signature oversized T-shirts, Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos aesthetic, or Bryan Johnson’s anti-aging blue goop regimen.

The piece cautions against unethical twists, such as recording people without consent for a "pervert glasses" costume, reinforcing the tension between tech culture and real-world boundaries.

Muse AI’s early adoption: strong on interest, light on disruption

Meta’s Muse AI assistant, launched earlier this year, has surpassed 10 million activations in the US and Canada, with over 25% of users leveraging it for shopping—exceeding the company’s expectations. The tool, designed to simplify purchases through partnerships with retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Gap, has sparked both enthusiasm and skepticism about the future of "agentic commerce."

Despite the hype, executives from roughly 50 companies across sectors like travel, banking, and food delivery report minimal disruption so far. DoorDash noted that orders from Muse and similar agents remain in the "hundreds," while Hilton, T-Mobile, and Bank of America described activity as "insignificant," "quite low," or "very, very small." Fitness chain Life Time Group and self-storage provider Public Storage echoed similar sentiments, with the former reporting zero cancellations from AI agents.

Chipotle, however, saw a single-digit percentage increase in orders tied to Muse, prompting the chain to optimize its website for AI navigation. Costco and Extra Space Storage also reported surging sales from AI chatbots like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT after refining their online content for better compatibility.

Meta’s ambitions for Muse extend beyond adoption. The company plans to charge businesses for transactions facilitated by the tool, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicting that revenue from these fees could eventually surpass Meta’s advertising business. Bank of America has already warned customers against sharing login credentials with AI assistants, citing security risks.

Muse AI’s competitive landscape

Meta’s Muse enters a crowded field of AI assistants, including Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Amazon initially blocked Muse, arguing users would prefer its own Alexa shopping agent, but later acknowledged plans to collaborate with external agents. This shift mirrors broader industry dynamics, where companies are balancing proprietary ecosystems with interoperability.

Earlier LazyFounder coverage highlighted skepticism from Amazon’s leadership about AI shopping agents, though Meta’s partnerships with major retailers suggest a different trajectory. The rivalry underscores the stakes in e-commerce optimization, as brands race to adapt their digital storefronts for AI-driven interactions.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators, the uneven adoption of Muse signals both opportunity and caution. While Meta’s scale and retailer partnerships give Muse a head start, the lukewarm response from most businesses suggests that AI-driven commerce is still in its experimental phase. Companies like Chipotle and Costco are already tweaking their websites to better accommodate AI agents—a trend that could accelerate if Muse or its competitors gain traction. However, the risks of premature investment are real: if agentic commerce stalls, brands may find themselves optimizing for a channel that never delivers meaningful returns.

The Halloween costume angle, meanwhile, reflects broader anxieties about AI’s role in daily life. The humor around "deceptively cute" AI agents and recursive self-improvement masks genuine concerns about ethics, security, and unintended consequences. For startups in the AI space, these cultural touchpoints offer a reminder that public perception can shape adoption as much as technical capabilities.

Key takeaways

• Muse’s 10M activations highlight Meta’s ability to leverage its user base, but minimal disruption reported by most businesses underscores the gap between hype and reality.
• Early adopters like Chipotle and Costco are optimizing for AI agents, signaling a potential shift in e-commerce infrastructure—though the payoff remains uncertain.
• Meta’s plan to monetize Muse transactions could redefine its revenue model, but businesses must weigh the costs against the still-limited impact on sales.
• The rivalry between Muse, Alexa, and other AI assistants reveals competing visions for agentic commerce, with brands caught in the middle.

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