Meta's AI connectors could spark an App Store-style boom. Here's how they work

Silicon Valley is betting that "connectors," which act as keys for AI agents to access internet services, could trigger a major internet shift comparable to the App Store, with Meta's Muse agent serving as a high-profile test. These connectors allow AI to perform tasks like booking reservations or shopping, but their success depends on businesses granting access. Meta is opening its Muse connectors to developers, pitching that businesses can benefit by making their services easy for AI agents to use, potentially creating new competition. However, reactions are mixed, with Amazon blocking Muse while Shopify partnered with Meta, highlighting a central tension over whether companies want an AI system between them and their customers. Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has suggested the company could take a small cut of transactions made through Muse, keeping the agent free for most users. The outcome of this "fight over who controls the doors" could either create a new internet age or halt its progress.