Rock band Muse has lost control of their social media handles to Meta’s new AI tool, which has sparked reactions from fans and highlighted a darkly ironic twist. The band, known for their thought-provoking music that often explores anxieties about technology, now has their X and Instagram handles taken over by Meta’s AI app, also named Muse. This happened after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, launched the tool this week. The AI is currently available only to users in the U.S. and is designed to help adults with daily tasks such as scheduling, shopping, and managing emails, as well as helping users create action plans for long-term goals. Meta emphasizes that the tool is focused on privacy and safety. Fans of the band, who formed in Devon in 1994, noticed the change when they saw the band’s X handle change from @Muse to @Musetheband, and their Instagram handle shift from @Muse to @museband. The AI app now holds the original @Muse handle on X. Many fans pointed out the irony of the situation, especially given Muse’s music that often warns of a dystopian future where humans are controlled or manipulated by technology. On the opening track of their 2018 album Simulation Theory, lead singer Matt Bellamy sings about being trapped in simulations and the dangers of evolving algorithms. Their 2015 album Drones was also heavily influenced by concerns about how technology could be used for social control. Social media users expressed surprise and disappointment at the change. One fan wrote on X: “Muse going from making dystopian rock albums warning us about the machine takeover to taking an AI buyout is top tier tragic irony.” Others questioned how much the band was paid for losing their social media handles. Some fans also mentioned that they had followed the Muse AI app account by mistake after following the band. However, The Independent could not confirm this. At the time of writing, the X account for Meta’s Muse AI tool had only 11,000 followers, compared to the band’s 2.3 million followers. The Independent has reached out to representatives of Muse (the band) and Meta for comment. Fronted by Matt Bellamy, Muse is one of the UK’s most prominent rock bands in recent decades. They have released 10 studio albums, with their latest, The Wow! Signal, receiving mostly positive reviews upon its release in June. The band is also set to embark on a headline tour of the UK and Europe starting in November, which will include a performance at London’s O2 Arena.