Meta is set to acquire Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus as the technology giant accelerates efforts to integrate advanced AI capabilities across its consumer and enterprise platforms.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with the transaction estimate the deal’s value at between $2 billion and $3 billion, although official financial terms have not been disclosed. Neither Meta nor Manus immediately responded to requests for comment.
The acquisition highlights Meta’s increasing focus on scalable, revenue-generating AI products amid intensifying global competition in the artificial intelligence sector.
Manus, now headquartered in Singapore, rose to prominence earlier this year after gaining viral attention on X (formerly Twitter) with the launch of what it described as the world’s first general AI agent. Unlike conventional chatbots, the company claims its AI agent can autonomously make decisions and execute tasks with minimal user input.
The startup was at one point dubbed “China’s next DeepSeek” and has attracted interest from Chinese authorities as well as major global technology players. Manus has also claimed that its AI agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch in certain tasks and maintains a strategic partnership with Alibaba to collaborate on AI model development.
Meta said it plans to operate and commercialise Manus’ services while integrating its technology into the broader Meta ecosystem, including Meta AI and other consumer and enterprise products. Manus is expected to continue operating independently even as its AI capabilities are embedded across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
For Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has made artificial intelligence central to the company’s long-term strategy, the acquisition marks a shift toward AI platforms with established commercial traction. Manus recently disclosed that it has attracted millions of users and surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, making it one of the few AI startups to achieve meaningful scale.
Industry analysts say this revenue profile likely played a significant role in Meta’s decision to pursue the acquisition at a multibillion-dollar valuation.
Manus is backed by its parent company, Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, and raised $75 million earlier this year at a valuation of approximately $500 million. The funding round was led by U.S. venture capital firm Benchmark, with participation from HSG (formerly Sequoia Capital China), ZhenFund, and Tencent Holdings, according to PitchBook data.
