Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has bought Manus, a Singapore-based startup that makes a popular artificial intelligence (AI) agent. This move comes as Meta pushes to turn its big AI investments into real business results. The financial terms of the deal were not shared.
The acquisition includes Manus’s technology and leadership team. Meta has not revealed exactly where the new team will fit in the company. Alexandr Wang, Meta’s Chief AI Officer, welcomed Manus’s team on X, and Manus co-founder and CEO Xiao Hong, said the deal will help his company expand its AI agents to a larger audience. “The era of AI that doesn’t just talk, but acts, creates, and delivers, is only beginning,” Hong said in a statement.
What is Manus?
Manus, which had a revenue run rate of $125 million earlier this year, sells its AI agent to businesses through subscriptions. The AI can handle tasks like screening resumes, making travel plans, and even analysing stocks. The startup is run by Butterfly Effect, a company that started in China before moving to Singapore. Earlier this year, Butterfly Effect raised money at a valuation close to $500 million in a round led by US venture capital firm Benchmark.
Manus gained attention after debuting an AI model in March that could create detailed research reports and build custom websites. It followed another AI called DeepSeek, also developed in China, which impressed Silicon Valley for its capabilities despite using less computing power than US competitors.
Since its launch, Manus has gained millions of users, including paying subscribers who use its AI for analysis, coding, and other tasks.
What it means for WhatsApp, Instagram
Meta, in a statement on Monday, said it will continue running Manus’s service and integrate its AI agents into Meta’s social media and business products. Meta already has an AI chatbot called Meta AI, which works on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Meta’s AI-powered glasses.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is working to develop “personal superintelligence.” Meta is under pressure to show that its massive spending on AI can generate revenue, both from consumers and the millions of businesses using its platforms for advertising. The company has also been testing premium subscriptions for its AI assistant, Meta AI, to handle tasks such as booking reservations and creating videos, according to FT. Alexandr Wang, an AI entrepreneur hired by Meta this summer, said the company is also hiring more staff in Singapore.
AI agents are digital tools that can perform tasks without human supervision. Unlike chatbots, which need instructions from users, AI agents can act on their own. Companies like Salesforce and ServiceNow have promoted AI agents as a better way for businesses to use AI, instead of relying on simple generative AI tools.
It won’t be wrong to say that AI is now the top priority for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The company is spending billions on hiring AI researchers, building new data centres, and developing advanced AI models. Meta is racing against other tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft to dominate the AI space.
Benchmark, the venture firm that backed Manus, faced criticism earlier this year for investing in a company with ties to China. US Senator John Cornyn questioned whether American investors should fund AI companies connected to China, fearing the technology could be used against the US economically and militarily.