SINGAPORE: Meta has announced its acquisition of Chinese-founded AI startup Manus as the social media giant steps up efforts to embed advanced AI across its products. Financial terms were not disclosed, but sources suggest the Singapore-based company is valued between $2 billion and $3 billion.
Once hailed as China’s next DeepSeek, Manus gained global attention earlier this year for releasing what it described as the world’s first general AI agent, capable of autonomously making decisions and executing tasks with minimal prompting.
Manus claims its AI performance surpasses that of OpenAI’s DeepResearch and has strategic partnerships with Alibaba to develop advanced AI models, according to Reuters.
Meta plans to operate and sell Manus’ services while integrating them into consumer and business offerings, including Meta AI. This acquisition is part of a broader trend among tech giants to strengthen AI capabilities through strategic deals and talent acquisition.
Manus, backed by Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, raised $75 million this year at a valuation of around $500 million, led by U.S. venture firm Benchmark.
Its Singapore domicile reflects a growing trend of Chinese tech firms relocating operations to reduce risks from Sino-U.S. geopolitical tensions.
