Meta Platforms has officially announced the acquisition of Manus, a high-growth startup specialized in autonomous artificial intelligence agents. While the companies did not publicly disclose the final price, reports from the Wall Street Journal suggest the deal is valued at over 2 billion dollars. This transaction marks Meta’s third-largest acquisition in its history, trailing only behind WhatsApp and its recent investment in Scale AI. The move signals a major shift in Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy as the company moves beyond simple chatbots toward “agentic” AI.
Manus, founded by Chinese entrepreneur Xiao Hong and originally part of Beijing-based Butterfly Effect, recently relocated its headquarters to Singapore. The startup gained international attention in early 2025 with the launch of an AI agent that claimed to outperform OpenAI’s most advanced research tools. Unlike standard AI that merely generates text, Manus operates as a “digital employee.” It can independently manage complex projects like screening resumes, building websites, and analyzing stock market data with minimal human guidance.
The acquisition comes at a time of intense geopolitical scrutiny regarding Chinese technology. To satisfy regulatory concerns and navigate Sino-US tensions, Manus will reportedly sever ties with its Chinese investors and cease operations within China. The team will join Meta as full-time employees, with CEO Xiao Hong stepping into a Vice President role at the social media giant. Meta confirmed it will continue to operate and sell the Manus subscription service as a standalone product while simultaneously integrating its tech into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
For Meta, the deal is a direct response to the massive capital expenditure it has poured into AI infrastructure. By acquiring a company with an established revenue run rate of over 125 million dollars, Meta gains an immediate path to monetization. The goal is to create “personal superintelligence” for billions of users. These advanced agents will eventually handle real-world tasks like booking travel or managing business workflows directly through messaging apps.
Industry analysts view this as a pivotal moment for the sector. The focus in Silicon Valley is rapidly moving from models that talk to models that act. By bringing the Manus team into its fold, Meta is positioning itself to lead this new era of automation. Zuckerberg has made it clear that task-oriented agents are the future of the company’s ecosystem. The success of this integration will likely define Meta’s ability to stay competitive against rivals like Google and Microsoft in 2026.
