Build an AI Agent Body in an Afternoon

You can build an AI agent body in an afternoon once the parts are on your desk. Pick a board that Meta's Muse firmware supports, flash it from a Mac or Linux computer over a USB data cable, pair it in the Muse app, and put it where you'll use it. Hackshop's build pages estimate one to three hours of setup for most boards, and a typical build costs about $30 to $70 with a cable. The ordering happens a few days before.

What you need before you start

A supported board. Step 1 helps you pick one.
"A USB cable that carries data, not just power." Meta lists this as a requirement. A charge-only cable can't flash a board, and it's an easy mistake to make.
A computer running macOS or Linux. Windows isn't on Meta's list for the ESP32 SDK.
An SDK token from gadgets.muse.ai, under Account > SDK tokens. Every gadget needs one to pair.
The Muse app on an iPhone or Android phone.
Optional: a printed stand for bare boards.

Step 1: Pick a board

Choose by where it will live and how you'll talk to it. For a first build, these five cover most needs:

Board	Good for	Price	First-flash notes
Espressif ESP32-C5-DevKitC-1	Easiest first flash; status light only	Launched at $15 in 2025	Works as-is with its status light and BOOT button
M5Stack StickS3	Pocket push-to-talk	$21.50	Ships with UiFlow2, which turns off USB serial, and has no BOOT button. Back up its 8 MB flash, then follow the one-time steps in Meta's notes.
AIPI Lite	Palm-size buddy with a battery	$35.99	No USB-C cable or power adapter in the box
Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.75C	Round desk display	$39.99 to $41.99	Comes in an aluminum case; the higher price appears to be the version with a battery
Seeed SenseCAP Watcher	A camera Muse can use	$60.99	Back up its factory data first; a flash shows nothing for about three minutes

If you want a face on your desk, take the Waveshare. If you want the cheapest board you can talk to, take the StickS3 and allow extra time for its first flash. If you only want to prove the whole chain works, the C5 DevKitC-1 is Meta's suggested quickest start. Save the Watcher for your second build.

Step 2: Order the parts

Every board and part is on the hackshop store page with seller and Amazon links. Hackshop doesn't sell hardware, and nothing gets bought without your OK. Add a USB-C data cable (hackshop budgets about $8) and the totals land here:

StickS3 build: about $30
AIPI Lite build: about $44
Waveshare round display build: about $48
SenseCAP Watcher build: about $69

Order a few days ahead, since shipping times vary by seller. For a stand, print hackshop's STL file yourself or order a print from a library or service.

Step 3: Flash the Muse firmware

Get your token. Create one at gadgets.muse.ai under Account > SDK tokens. Keep it out of public repos and posts.
Install ESP-IDF v6.0.1 exactly. Meta's README says "Other versions aren't supported." Espressif's docs now default to v6.1, so don't just grab the latest.
Get the SDK. Clone facebookincubator/muse-gadget-sdk from GitHub and work in its esp32 folder.
Set the token. Run idf.py menuconfig and enter it under ESP32 Device SDK.
Build and flash. Build with your board's command from its build page, such as tools/muse/board.sh build sticks3, then run idf.py -p PORT flash monitor.

PORT is your board's serial port. On a Mac it looks like /dev/cu.usb*; on Linux, /dev/ttyACM* or /dev/ttyUSB*. The ESP32 port finder helps you pick the right one. If flashing can't connect, Meta's advice is to "hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT, and try again." On Linux, add yourself to the dialout group and log back in.

Prefer not to type commands? Meta's repo includes AGENTS.md files, and in its words, "Any agent that reads AGENTS.md can build and flash from this repository." Meta's own Muse Code works too. See how to let your agent plan and build it.

Step 4: Pair it with the Muse app

After a good flash, the status light breathes orange, which means it's ready for setup. On boards with a screen, the edge bars or avatar show the same colors.

In the Muse app, turn on Settings > Devices > Developer mode.
Tap Add Device (the + icon) and pick the device whose name starts with MuseGadget.
When the light breathes blue, press the board's button to confirm it's you.
Wait for green. That means Muse is connected.

Yellow blinking means reconnecting, purple means not paired, and red blinking means something went wrong, so check the log. Hold the button for 5 seconds to reset and start over. Pair on a network you trust, because pairing "can't prevent an active man-in-the-middle attack." Reflashing later keeps your pairing and Wi-Fi settings.

Step 5: Place it and say hello

Put the board on its stand or shelf, route the cable so it doesn't lift the board, and check that you can reach the buttons. Then try a first prompt from its build page, such as "(Hold to talk) Add milk to the grocery list." Muse answers in text, shown as captions on boards with a screen. Want shorter replies? Ask for them in the message: "Answer in one sentence."

One setting is worth a minute: Meta strongly recommends turning on NVS encryption, because your Wi-Fi credentials and device tokens sit in flash where anyone holding the board could read them.

How long it takes to build an AI agent body, and what it costs

Hackshop's estimates are one to two hours for the StickS3 and one to three hours for most other boards, counted from when the parts arrive. Writing the firmware takes seconds; Espressif's sample log shows about 3 seconds of write time. The slow parts are installing the toolchain and the first build. Two exceptions run longer: a SenseCAP Watcher flash "shows nothing for about three minutes," and putting your own avatar on a board "takes several minutes, mostly waiting for Muse."

Costs run about $30 to $70 for an ESP32 build with a cable. Muse itself is free for most uses, with paid plans that Meta's announcement doesn't price. Ready to go? Start a build to save the parts list and checklist.

Questions people ask

Can I build an AI agent body on Windows?

Meta's ESP32 SDK lists a computer running macOS or Linux as a requirement, and Windows isn't on that list. Use a Mac or a Linux machine for flashing.

My board doesn't show up. What now?

Swap to a cable you know carries data, try another USB port and check the port name. On Linux, add yourself to the dialout group and log back in. If flashing still fails, hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT and retry.

Will reflashing erase my pairing?

No. Reflashing keeps your pairing and Wi-Fi settings. Only an erase-flash wipes them.

Can my coding agent do the whole build?

Most of it. Any agent that reads the repo's AGENTS.md can build and flash. Approving and buying parts, and pairing in the Muse app on your phone, stay with you.

Sources

Prices and details checked October 5, 2026.