Meta has announced that it will acquire Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup Manus AI, reinforcing its push to deploy advanced AI technologies across its consumer and enterprise platforms. The deal underscores Meta’s growing focus on AI-driven products and services as it seeks to deepen automation, research, and intelligent assistance within its ecosystem. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The move builds on Meta’s broader AI investment strategy. Earlier, the Facebook parent invested in Scale AI, a deal that valued the data-labeling company at $29 billion and brought its CEO, Alexandr Wang, into closer collaboration with Meta. Together, these investments signal Meta’s intent to strengthen both the infrastructure and application layers of artificial intelligence, from data and training to deployment in real-world use cases.
Commenting on the acquisition, Manus CEO Xiao Hong said the company’s operational independence would remain intact. “Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made,” he said in a company release. The statement reflects an effort to reassure users and developers that Manus’ core vision and approach will continue under Meta’s ownership.
Founded in Singapore, Manus has developed a general-purpose AI agent designed to function like a digital employee. The system is capable of handling research, workflow automation, and complex tasks with minimal user prompting, positioning it as a flexible assistant for both individuals and businesses. Unlike narrow, single-purpose bots, Manus aims to act as an adaptable agent that can understand objectives and execute tasks across domains.
Meta plans to operate and commercialise the Manus service, while also integrating its capabilities into Meta AI and a range of consumer and business-facing products. This integration could enhance Meta’s existing AI assistants, tools for creators, and enterprise offerings by enabling more autonomous task execution and intelligent automation.
Manus has recently drawn attention by launching its AI agent publicly and promoting it through live demonstrations on X, where the system completed tasks for users free of charge. The startup has also positioned itself strategically in Singapore, a move seen as part of a broader trend among Chinese-linked AI companies to base operations in neutral hubs to reduce geopolitical and regulatory risk.
With the acquisition of Manus AI, Meta is signaling its ambition to move beyond conversational AI toward agent-based systems that can actively perform work. As competition intensifies among global tech giants to define the next phase of AI adoption, Meta appears focused on embedding intelligent agents deeply into everyday digital experiences.
