Meta announced on Monday that it has acquired Chinese artificial intelligence startup Manus, marking another step in the company’s aggressive push to expand advanced AI functionality across its platforms.
The acquisition comes as global technology companies race to secure cutting-edge AI tools through mergers, investments, and high-profile talent acquisitions amid intensifying competition in the sector. Earlier this year, Meta invested in data-labeling firm Scale AI in a deal that valued the company at $29 billion and brought its founder and CEO, Alexandr Wang, into the Meta ecosystem.
While Meta confirmed the acquisition of Manus, the company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Manus, which operates out of Singapore, develops a general-purpose AI agent designed to function as a “digital employee.” The AI system is capable of independently carrying out tasks such as research, workflow automation, and information processing with minimal human input.
Meta said it plans to operate and commercialise the Manus platform, while also integrating its capabilities into both consumer-facing and enterprise products, including Meta AI.
Earlier this year, Manus drew attention in the AI community after launching its flagship agent and claiming that it outperformed OpenAI’s DeepResearch AI in certain benchmarks. The company promoted its technology by completing a wide range of tasks for users on social media platform X at no cost.
Manus is owned by Beijing-based Butterfly Effect Technology Ltd Co and is part of a broader trend of Chinese AI firms relocating or establishing headquarters in Singapore. The move reflects efforts by such companies to mitigate operational risks linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.
