Meta Platforms logo alongside abstract AI graphics representing Manus AI technology and global expansion.

Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Manus, a fast-growing AI startup that went viral earlier this year, in a deal reportedly worth $2 billion marking one of the company’s boldest moves yet in its all-in push on artificial intelligence.

Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup, burst into the spotlight this spring after releasing a highly polished demo video that spread rapidly across Silicon Valley.

The clip showcased an AI agent capable of performing complex tasks such as screening job applicants, planning travel itineraries, and analysing stock portfolios. 

At launch, the company claimed its system outperformed OpenAI’s Deep Research an assertion that immediately drew attention from investors and tech analysts.

Within weeks of its public debut, Manus attracted major venture capital backing. By April, Benchmark led a $75 million funding round that valued the company at $500 million post-money. Benchmark general partner Chetan Puttagunta also joined the company’s board.

Chinese media reports indicated that Manus had earlier raised about $10 million from high-profile investors, including Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG (formerly Sequoia China), before relocating its core operations to Singapore.

Despite early skepticism about its pricing ranging from $39 to $199 per month for access to its AI tools Manus later announced it had signed up millions of users and surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Meta entered acquisition talks after Manus demonstrated strong commercial traction something still rare in the AI sector.

Meta is said to be paying $2 billion, matching the valuation Manus was reportedly seeking for its next funding round.

For CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the acquisition represents a strategic win. As Meta continues to spend tens of billions of dollars annually on AI infrastructure, investors have increasingly questioned when those investments will translate into real revenue. Manus offers a clear answer: an AI product already making money at scale.

Meta Platforms logo alongside abstract AI graphics representing Manus AI technology and global expansion.

Meta says Manus will continue to operate independently while its AI agents are gradually integrated into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta AI is already available across these platforms, and Manus’ task-oriented agents could significantly expand its real-world usefulness.

One complication remains: Manus’ founding team has Chinese roots. The company’s parent firm, Butterfly Effect, was originally established in Beijing in 2022 before relocating operations to Singapore earlier this year.

That background has already attracted political scrutiny in the United States. Senator John Cornyn, a senior Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, publicly criticised Benchmark’s investment in Manus, questioning why American capital should support AI development linked to China.

Concerns over Chinese influence in advanced technology have become one of the few bipartisan issues in Washington.

In response, Meta has moved quickly to address regulatory concerns. The company told Nikkei Asia that Manus will sever all ties to Chinese investors following the acquisition and will cease operations in China entirely.

“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,” a Meta spokesperson said.