Meta Platforms is acquiring Singapore-based AI startup Manus for more than $2 billion, marking one of its largest AI-related deals and giving it access to a fast-growing business with millions of paying users and significant recurring revenue. Manus, founded by Chinese entrepreneurs and known for its advanced “general-purpose” AI agents that can autonomously perform complex tasks like research and website building, will be integrated into Meta’s products such as Meta AI, WhatsApp and Facebook. The deal underscores Meta’s strategy to expand beyond traditional AI models into agent-driven tools as it competes with OpenAI, Google and others, and represents a rare major U.S. tech acquisition of a company with Asian roots. Manus will maintain its brand and Singapore operations, with leadership joining Meta, while Meta simultaneously distances the startup’s operations from China.
