Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup originally founded with Chinese roots, as part of a strategic push to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate innovation across its suite of products, including Meta AI, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
Manus specialises in developing general-purpose AI agents, autonomous systems capable of performing complex, multi-step tasks such as market research, coding, resume screening and data analysis with minimal human input. The technology has attracted millions of users and generated significant subscription-based revenue, making it an attractive asset for Meta’s expanding AI strategy.
Under the deal, Meta will integrate Manus’s AI agent technology into its consumer and business offerings while continuing to operate the existing Manus service from its Singapore headquarters. Manus’s team and leadership, including co-founder and CEO Xiao Hong, will join Meta to further advance AI development.
Meta’s acquisition of Manus marks one of its most significant AI purchases outside its major bets like Scale AI and highlights the company’s ambition to compete with other tech giants in the AI race. By combining Manus’s autonomous agent technology with Meta’s vast user ecosystem, the company aims to deliver more powerful, task-oriented AI experiences to billions of users and millions of businesses worldwide.
The deal also comes amid industry and geopolitical dynamics, as Manus moves forward without its previous China operations and investors, with Meta asserting a commitment to data security and seamless integration.
