Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, has announced its acquisition of Manus, a promising artificial intelligence startup. This move aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to strengthen its AI capabilities across its various platforms. Although Meta did not officially disclose the financial terms, The Wall Street Journal reports value the deal at over $2 billion, highlighting the substantial investment Meta is making in AI technologies. Manus, a startup headquartered in Singapore with roots connected to China, gained attention earlier this year when it launched a versatile AI agent designed to handle a wide range of tasks. Remarkably, within just eight months of operation, Manus reached over $100 million in annual recurring revenue. This rapid growth demonstrates strong demand for Manus’s AI solutions, which it provides through subscription-based services targeting research, coding, and a variety of business applications. Following the acquisition, Meta stated that Manus will have no remaining Chinese ownership. To meet regulatory expectations and preserve strategic objectives, Manus will shut down its operations in China but continue functioning from its Singapore headquarters. The company intends to maintain its brand identity and continue offering its subscription services independently, even as it integrates into Meta’s extensive AI ecosystem. Xiao Hong, Manus’s CEO, expressed confidence in the acquisition, emphasizing that joining Meta will enhance the company’s resources and capabilities without disrupting its core operations or customer commitments.

This reassurance aims to sustain the trust of Manus’s current users while utilizing Meta’s global reach to speed innovation and expand market presence. This acquisition marks a key milestone in Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s ambitious plan to secure a leading position in the fiercely competitive AI field. It follows Meta’s earlier major purchase of Scale AI, an AI data company acquired for $14. 3 billion, underscoring Zuckerberg’s dedication to bolstering Meta’s technological advantage. Meta’s strategic emphasis on integrating advanced AI technologies into Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms seeks to improve user experience, streamline content creation, and enhance business tools. By incorporating Manus’s state-of-the-art AI agent and its diverse service offerings, Meta is set to accelerate innovation in AI-driven products and services, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the evolving digital landscape. The acquisition also underscores the increasingly global nature of AI development, with important technologies emerging from various regions such as Singapore and China. Meta’s choice to continue Manus’s operations from Singapore while discontinuing activities in China reflects the complex geopolitical and regulatory challenges technology firms face in this sector. In summary, Meta’s acquisition of Manus not only represents a significant financial commitment but also reinforces its long-term dedication to advancing AI capabilities. As artificial intelligence continues to shape the future of digital interaction, Meta is positioning itself to leverage innovative startups like Manus to deliver next-generation experiences across its platforms, thereby sustaining growth and strengthening its competitive edge in a rapidly changing tech environment.