Meta Platforms has added another fast-moving piece to its AI strategy, acquiring Manus, a Singapore-based startup building general-purpose AI agents. The deal, confirmed by Meta on Tuesday, comes as the company accelerates its push into autonomous systems that can handle complex work with minimal human input.
Meta didn’t disclose financial terms, but the move underscores a clear pattern: buy proven AI talent and technology early, then scale it across Meta’s massive consumer and enterprise footprint.
Why Manus caught Meta’s attention
Manus builds AI agents designed to execute multi-step tasks—think market research, coding workflows, and data analysis—rather than just answering prompts. That distinction matters. As the AI industry shifts from chatbots to agents that can do things, companies like Manus have become hot targets.
Founded in China before relocating to Singapore, Manus launched its first agent earlier this year and claims it hit nine-figure annualized revenue within months of going live. The startup has also said its agents can outperform some competing research-focused AI tools in real-world tasks, a claim that helped put it on Big Tech’s radar.
A deal that fits Meta’s bigger AI play
Meta says the acquisition is about accelerating automation across both consumer products and business tools, including its Meta AI assistant. The company plans to integrate Manus’ agent technology while allowing the startup to continue operating its subscription service without disruption.
That hands-off approach isn’t new for Meta. Over the past year, the company has repeatedly opted to acquire specialized AI startups rather than build everything in-house—especially when speed matters.
In June, Meta made headlines with a multibillion-dollar investment in Scale AI, bringing founder Alexandr Wang into its AI leadership orbit. More recently, it snapped up an AI wearables startup as it experiments with new hardware categories. Manus slots neatly into that strategy: software-first, automation-heavy, and already generating revenue.
Global ambitions, geopolitical realities
Manus’ relocation to Singapore reflects a broader trend among AI startups with Chinese roots that want global reach. As regulatory and political scrutiny intensifies, Singapore has emerged as a neutral base for companies looking to serve U.S. and European markets without friction.
The startup has raised significant backing from U.S. and Asian investors and previously announced partnerships with major tech players, signaling its intent to operate on a global stage long before Meta came calling.
Why AI agents are suddenly everywhere
For years, AI progress was measured by how well models could talk. Now, the focus is shifting to how well they can act. AI agents promise to automate workflows end to end—opening files, writing code, analyzing data, and delivering results without constant supervision.
That shift has major implications for productivity software, enterprise IT, and even consumer apps. For Meta, which sits at the intersection of social platforms, advertising, and business messaging, agent-based automation could unlock new revenue streams and make its tools stickier for companies.
What happens next
Meta says Manus employees will join its AI teams, but the product itself will remain available as a standalone service for now. Over time, industry watchers expect Manus’ capabilities to be woven into Meta’s broader AI ecosystem, especially for business-facing tools.
The acquisition also sends a signal to the market: Big Tech isn’t waiting around. As AI agents move from hype to real-world utility, the race is on to own the platforms—and the people—behind them.
Conclusion
Meta’s purchase of Manus isn’t just another startup buyout. It’s a bet that autonomous AI agents are the next frontier—and that owning them early could shape how billions of users and businesses get work done.