Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus in $2B Deal, Plans Integration Across Facebook, WhatsApp

Meta Platforms has officially announced the acquisition of Manus, a high-flying startup known for building autonomous AI agents that don’t just chat, but actually get work done. 

This acquisition marks a major pivot for Meta, moving from its focus on open-source Llama models to snapping up a product that is already a proven moneymaker. Manus reportedly hit an annual recurring revenue of over $100 million just eight months after its launch.

In its announcement, Meta described Manus as “one of the leading autonomous general-purpose agents” and said the technology would be brought to billions of users across Meta’s platforms. 

What Manus brings to Meta

Manus has built an AI agent designed to carry out tasks with minimal human supervision, ranging from market research and coding to data analysis. The company stated that its agent has already processed more than 147 trillion tokens and created over 80 million virtual computers since launch.

In a Facebook post, Meta said it will continue to operate and sell the Manus service while also integrating the technology into its own products, including Meta AI, which is available across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

“Manus is already serving the daily needs of millions of users and businesses worldwide,” Meta said, adding that the startup’s talent will join Meta’s AI teams.

A rare cross-border AI acquisition

The acquisition comes with a heavy dose of geopolitical maneuvering. Manus’s parent company, Butterfly Effect, was originally founded in Beijing before relocating its headquarters to Singapore in 2025.

To smooth things over in Washington, Meta is making a clean break. The company confirmed to Nikkei Asia that “there will be no continuing Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI following the transaction, and Manus AI will discontinue its services and operations in China.”

While Meta did not disclose the official price tag, reports from The Wall Street Journal peg the deal at over $2 billion.

Manus said it will continue to operate its subscription service without disruption and will keep its base in Singapore. The company stressed that its customers should not expect changes to how the product works.

“Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made,” said Xiao Hong, CEO of Manus, in a statement.

The Manus acquisition fits into Meta’s broader push to turn massive AI spending into real products and revenue. Meta has been investing heavily in data centers, AI models, and talent as it competes with rivals such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
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