Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has agreed to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based startup whose autonomous AI agents became a Silicon Valley sensation earlier this year.
The deal, valued at approximately $2 billion, represents Meta’s third-largest acquisition to date, trailing only WhatsApp and its recent $14.8 billion purchase of Scale AI.
The acquisition marks a strategic pivot for CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is under pressure to show tangible returns on Meta’s $60 billion annual AI infrastructure spend.
Unlike traditional chatbots that merely generate text, Manus functions as an "execution layer," capable of independently performing complex, multi-step tasks such as screening job candidates, analyzing stock portfolios, and planning travel using a secure, virtualized environment.
The deal caps a meteoric rise for Manus, which launched only eight months ago.
Developed by parent company Butterfly Effect, the startup moved its operations from Beijing to Singapore in mid-2025 to navigate rising US-China trade tensions.
Since its public debut in March, Manus has achieved a rare feat in the AI sector: rapid monetization.
The company recently reported crossing $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), supported by a subscription model that charges users between $39 and $199 per month.
The transaction faces potential political scrutiny in Washington due to the startup’s Chinese origins and early backing from investors like Tencent and HSG (formerly Sequoia China).
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) had previously criticized venture firm Benchmark for leading a $75 million round into the company in April, questioning the wisdom of American capital subsidizing AI talent with ties to a "strategic adversary."
To mitigate these concerns, Meta has confirmed that all Chinese ownership interests will be liquidated as part of the transaction.
Additionally, Manus will discontinue all services and operations within mainland China.
The acquisition is expected to close in early 2026, positioning Meta to compete directly with OpenAI’s "Operator" and Google’s agentic workflows in the race to transform AI from a conversational tool into a functional digital workforce.