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.