**Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus to Enhance Its Technology Portfolio**
Meta has announced its acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence, as part of its strategy to integrate advanced AI capabilities across its platforms. While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, sources familiar with the transaction suggest that Manus could be valued between $2 billion and $3 billion. This move comes amid a competitive race among tech giants to innovate and deploy cutting-edge AI technologies.
As Meta faces intense competition in the tech industry, the company is making significant investments in AI. Earlier this year, it invested in Scale AI, a data labeling startup valued at $29 billion, and appointed its 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang, to further bolster its AI initiatives.
Manus gained significant attention earlier this year after launching what it claims to be the world’s first general AI agent, capable of making autonomous decisions with minimal prompting, unlike traditional AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek. This innovation has led to comparisons with China’s DeepSeek and garnered praise from Chinese state media.
Despite its services not being available in China, Manus asserts that its AI agent surpasses OpenAI’s DeepResearch. Meta plans to maintain Manus as an independent entity while integrating its AI technology into popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, alongside its existing chatbot, Meta AI.
The startup has made a notable impact in Silicon Valley since its debut, showcasing its AI agent’s capabilities in tasks such as job candidate screening, vacation planning, and stock portfolio analysis. Manus has reported millions of users and an annual recurring revenue exceeding $100 million from subscriptions.
For Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, this acquisition is significant as it represents a revenue-generating AI product, which is crucial given investor concerns about Meta’s substantial $60 billion investment in data centers and the broader industry’s costly AI development.
**FAQ**
*Can Manus’s AI technology compete with established players like OpenAI?*
Yes, Manus’s AI agent is designed to operate with greater autonomy than traditional chatbots, positioning it as a competitive alternative to established AI technologies like OpenAI’s offerings.
