Meta is acquiring Manus, an AI firm founded in China, to enhance its technological capabilities.
Reports from Bloomberg analysts and The Wall Street Journal indicate the acquisition could exceed $2 billion (£1.48 billion).
The deal aims to improve Meta’s AI offerings by providing users with access to “agents.” These tools are designed to perform complex tasks, such as planning trips or creating presentations, with minimal user interaction.
A blog post from Meta stated that Manus’s talent would integrate into Meta’s team to develop general-purpose agents for its consumer and business products, including Meta AI.
Barton Crockett, an analyst at Rosenblatt Securities, commented to Reuters that this acquisition is a “natural fit” for Meta, aligning with Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for personal AI driven by agents.
Manus, which relocated from China to Singapore, has distinguished itself from other AI developers by claiming to offer a “truly autonomous” agent.
In contrast to many chatbots that require repetitive prompts for desired responses, Manus’s service is designed to plan, execute, and complete tasks autonomously based on instructions.
This aligns with Manus’s mission to “extend human reach” through general-purpose agents that support human work rather than replacing it.
Manus viewed its acquisition by Meta as “validation” of its developmental efforts.
Xiao Hong, Manus’s chief executive and one of its Chinese founders, stated in a blog post that “Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made.”
Hong added, “We’re excited about what the future holds with Meta and Manus working together and we will continue to iterate the product and serve users that have defined Manus from the beginning.”
Meta stated that as part of its deal, it would continue to operate and sell Manus’s AI service.
This acquisition represents another significant move by the Silicon Valley tech giant to solidify its position in the AI sector through strategic deals with emerging startups.
Previously, in June, Meta invested $14 billion to acquire 49% of Scale AI, appointing its leader to a key role in Meta’s AI development.
These moves are part of a broader increase in spending by Mark Zuckerberg on Meta’s AI strategy, which also includes reportedly luring talent from rivals like OpenAI.
