Meta announced on Monday that it will acquire the Singapore-based AI startup Manus. The move aims to accelerate Meta’s efforts to integrate advanced AI across its platforms. Financial terms were not officially disclosed, but sources estimate the deal at $2 billion to $3 billion.
Manus gained attention earlier this year after releasing what it called the world’s first general AI agent. Unlike AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, Manus’ agent can make decisions and act autonomously with minimal prompting. The company went viral on X and drew comparisons to China’s “next DeepSeek,” earning coverage on Chinese state television.
Months later, Manus moved its headquarters from China to Singapore, joining other Chinese firms seeking to reduce risks amid U.S.-China tensions. The startup claims its AI agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch and maintains a strategic partnership with Alibaba to collaborate on AI models.
Integration into Meta Products
Meta plans to operate and sell Manus’ AI service while integrating it into its consumer and business products, including Meta AI. Barton Crockett, analyst at Rosenblatt Securities, said the acquisition fits naturally into Meta’s small business footprint on WhatsApp and aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for agentic AI.
Strategic AI Investments
Tech giants are increasingly acquiring AI startups and hiring talent to stay competitive. Earlier this year, Meta invested in Scale AI, valuing the data-labeling company at $29 billion and bringing in CEO Alexandr Wang.
Manus, backed by Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, raised $75 million this year at a valuation near $500 million. U.S. venture firm Benchmark led the round. Other investors include HSG (formerly Sequoia Capital China), ZhenFund, and Tencent Holdings.
