Meta Platforms announced the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup that develops autonomous AI agents. The deal marks Meta’s significant push into the rapidly growing AI agent market.
Manus sells AI agent services to small and medium-sized businesses through a subscription model. The company reported an annual revenue run rate exceeding $125 million earlier this year, according to Bloomberg. Millions of users and businesses worldwide already rely on the platform for daily tasks.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Manus previously raised $75 million in funding led by Benchmark. The startup gained viral attention earlier this year when it demonstrated impressive autonomous task completion capabilities.
What Manus Does
Manus builds general-purpose AI agents that automate research and complex workflows. Unlike simple chatbots, the platform handles multi-step tasks independently from start to finish.
The company processed 147 trillion tokens this year and created more than 80 million virtual computers. These figures demonstrate the massive scale Manus achieved in a relatively short time.
Industry experts note that Manus stands out for its ability to reliably automate multi-step work. Many competitors have struggled with this capability. The robust execution layer for autonomous agents likely played a key role in attracting Meta’s interest.
Users simply define a task and the agent completes the entire process without constant supervision. This approach differs fundamentally from traditional AI assistants that require ongoing user input.
Meta’s AI Strategy
CEO Mark Zuckerberg made artificial intelligence the company’s top priority. Meta invested heavily in AI throughout 2025 and restructured its entire strategy around the technology.
The company established Meta Superintelligence Labs earlier this year. The Menlo Park-based division focuses on building advanced AI models that integrate deeply into Meta’s ecosystem. Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang leads the unit.
Meta previously acquired a 49 percent stake in Scale AI for $14 billion. That deal effectively brought Wang’s services to the company. He now works across both Scale AI and Meta’s internal AI efforts.
The Manus acquisition represents Meta’s serious entry into the AI agent segment. Until now, the company focused primarily on foundational AI models and chatbot services through Meta AI. This move expands their presence into autonomous agent territory.
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Post-Acquisition Plans
Manus will continue operating from Singapore following the acquisition. The existing subscription service remains available globally and continues accepting new customers.
Meta plans to integrate Manus AI capabilities across its platforms over time. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads users could eventually access this technology. The potential reach extends to billions of people worldwide.
The company also aims to expand Manus services to more businesses. While maintaining the current SMB focus, Meta will explore opportunities with larger enterprises as well.
The 100-person Manus team will join Meta’s workforce. They will continue developing general-purpose agents across all consumer and business products including Meta AI.
Executive Statements
Alexandr Wang announced the deal on X. He praised the Manus team in Singapore as world-class talent. He highlighted their expertise in exploring the capability overhang of current models to scaffold powerful agents.
Wang also announced hiring plans for Singapore. Meta Superintelligence Labs is growing rapidly in the region, now bolstered by the Manus team.
Manus founder Xiao shared an emotional post about the acquisition. He called it a moment he will remember for the rest of his life. When they started Manus, few believed that general AI agents could actually work. Critics said the project was too early, too ambitious and too hard. The team persisted despite the skepticism and ultimately proved the doubters wrong.
Market Implications
The acquisition positions Meta to compete more directly with AI-first productivity platforms. OpenAI, Google and Microsoft are all investing heavily in this space.
Manus brings a proven execution layer that could give Meta an advantage. Autonomous agents are widely expected to become one of the most important AI trends in the coming years. Companies that master this technology early will likely capture significant market share.
The deal also signals that Meta sees immediate revenue potential in AI beyond advertising. Manus already generates substantial subscription revenue. This provides Meta with a more direct return on its massive AI investments rather than waiting for indirect benefits through improved ad targeting.
Meta shares remained relatively stable following the announcement. Investors are waiting for more details about the transaction and integration plans before making significant moves.
The AI agent market continues to consolidate as major tech companies recognize the strategic importance of autonomous task completion. Meta’s acquisition of Manus will likely accelerate this trend and prompt competitors to pursue similar deals.
