Meta's AI Mascot 'Jolly' Sparks Online 'Thirst' with New Look
Users are reacting with sexually suggestive comments and memes to the anthropomorphic AI assistant, which Meta's head of Superintelligence Labs apparently helped 'sexualize.'
Meta's new AI assistant, Muse, has gained unexpected attention due to its mascot, Jolly, which has been given a more anthropomorphic and arguably sexualized appearance. This redesign has led to a wave of suggestive comments and memes from users online.
Jolly serves as the default mascot for Meta's Muse AI assistant, designed to perform various tasks for users, from sending emails to booking travel. The intention behind using an avatar like Jolly was to provide a more approachable and less impersonal interface compared to the AI assistants offered by competitors such as Anthropic.
Alexandr Wang, head of Meta's Superintelligence Labs, is credited with rolling out a series of AI-generated memes featuring Jolly with a significantly altered physique. These images, posted on social media, depict Jolly in provocative poses and situations, including a meme that parodies a scene from the movie "Challengers" and another superimposed over a screenshot of singer Adam Levine's controversial sexting messages.
Wang himself acknowledged the online reaction, posting on social media, "Some of y’all way too thirsty for muse," though his role in creating these suggestive iterations has drawn commentary.
The memes have sparked a strong reaction, with users expressing lustful sentiments and creating their own suggestive content. Comments on social media platforms ranged from calling Muse a "thirst trap" to anticipating an "OnlyFans" account for the AI assistant. Some users have stated they check social media daily specifically for these "thicc muse posts."
The trend of sexualizing AI characters is not entirely new, but the explicit nature of these memes and the apparent involvement of a Meta executive in their creation have amplified the discussion.
This development follows Meta's release of a feature that allows users to customize their Muse mascot's appearance and voice, opening avenues for further personalization and, potentially, the amplification of its sex appeal.