Apps & Consumer
Meta tests AI pet app Waddle World in the Philippines
Meta has quietly launched a new AI-powered virtual pet app called Waddle World in the Philippines, which could be an early look at its rumored Tamagotchi-like hardware gadget built around its Muse AI.
Spotted on iOS and Android by social media consultant Matt Navarra, Waddle World lets users hatch and raise a virtual pixel pet, feeding it and playing with it in what Meta’s own app description calls “a cozy 16-bit world.” The description is explicit about what the product is not: “Not a chatbot. Not an assistant. Not a productivity tool. It’s a pet, and a place. Stay two minutes or twenty — it’ll be happy either way,” it reads, adding that there are “no streaks to protect, no scores to chase.” Meta has flagged the app for users 18 and older and says it isn’t designed to be a habit builder.
Beyond the pet itself, the app functions as a journal: users narrate their day by voice or text, and the pet “listens” and turns the entry into a note in its own voice, paired with a doodle. It also carries short mini-games playable in a few minutes and can send a weekly email summarizing what it has learned about the user.
TechCrunch has asked Meta about plans for wider availability and will update if the company responds. Meta has been releasing AI-centered apps at a fast clip, including Pocket, for vibe-coding games, and Vibes, for quick AI video generation — and a cautious approach to companionship features here may reflect the lawsuits Character.AI and OpenAI have faced over claims that their products harmed teenagers.
Why it matters
A limited Philippines test lets Meta gauge appetite for an always-on AI companion product before committing to the dedicated Muse-powered hardware device the app may be previewing.