Meta Platforms has acquired an AI startup named Manus, which gives the company access to millions of engaged users and a rapidly growing paid subscription business.
The agreement will enhance Meta’s foray into the world of autonomous AI agents, which represents the next frontier of artificial intelligence.
Manus will remain operated from Singapore, its leadership and technologies integrated into Meta’s environment for AI development.
Meta Platforms, Inc. has been increasingly positioning itself as a major player in the field of artificial intelligence. The company has been making heavy investments in this sector. Though the company had a major identity in the field of social networking, it is increasingly focusing on artificial intelligence as the underlying foundation of all its products, ranging from content discovery to communication.
In recent years, Meta has broadened the scope of its AI initiatives from recommendation and chatbot-based AI to agent-based AI. Agent-based AI systems can work independently to complete tasks. In fact, the industry anticipates that AI will progress from a passive helping hand to an active doer. The company’s executives have reiterated that AI agents will play an important role in the design of user engagement with digital platforms.
Manus has positioned itself as a major player in this sector by developing general-purpose AI models capable of acting independently to accomplish complex tasks by designing an execution plan on their own. With this technology, users are able to set objectives such as compiling reports, carrying out research, or handling repetitive tasks, which the AI models will accomplish.
Founded by a team of seasoned AI entrepreneurs, Manus scaled rapidly by adopting a subscription-based business model, attracting paying users early in its lifecycle. This approach provided clear product-market fit and recurring revenue, qualities that are rare among early-stage AI startups. Its rapid adoption signaled strong demand for AI tools that deliver tangible productivity outcomes rather than experimental features.
The acquisition also reflects Meta’s penchant for supplementing internal AI research with selective external purchases. Though Meta maintains one of the largest in-house AI research groups, buying Manus moves the company’s products to market faster and locks in immediate market traction. This deal brings technology, an established user base, and a monetization framework.
Geopolitical and regulatory considerations played a part in the deal’s structure. Manus will operate entirely outside of China, headquartered in Singapore, to meet Meta’s global compliance needs. The move is part of Meta’s plans to scale AI agents on its platforms while limiting regulatory risks.
Overall, Meta’s acquisition of Manus represents a strategic pivot toward AI systems that act versus simply respond. This positions the company more aggressively to compete in the emerging AI economy and ultimately redefines user interaction with digital intelligent tools.
