NEW YORK, December 30, 2025, 16:42 ET
- Meta said it will acquire Manus, an AI agent startup now based in Singapore.
- The company plans to integrate Manus into Meta AI while keeping Manus subscriptions running.
- The deal adds to a wave of fast-moving AI transactions drawing scrutiny over Chinese-rooted tech assets.
Meta Platforms said it will acquire Manus, a Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup now headquartered in Singapore, as it accelerates efforts to roll out advanced AI features across its platforms. Financial terms were not disclosed, but a source with direct knowledge said the deal values Manus between $2 billion and $3 billion. Manus has said its agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch and it has a strategic partnership with Alibaba on AI models.
The purchase matters because AI companies are shifting from chatbots to “agents” — software designed to plan and complete multi-step work, such as research or coding, instead of just answering questions.
It also lands at a tense moment for cross-border AI deals. The Times of India said Manus’s Chinese roots could draw scrutiny in Washington and Beijing as AI becomes a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations.
Meta said it will integrate Manus into its consumer and business products, including Meta AI, and said there will be no continuing Chinese ownership interests as Manus winds down services and operations in China. Meta invested $14.3 billion in AI data company Scale in June and recruited Scale CEO Alexandr Wang as it stepped up its AI ambitions, the Associated Press reported.
The Wall Street Journal reported Meta is paying more than $2 billion for Manus, a fast-growing subscription service with millions of users. The paper said Manus hit about $100 million in annual recurring revenue within eight months and had raised $75 million earlier this year led by Benchmark.
Manus said it will keep selling subscriptions through its app and website and continue operating from Singapore. “Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made,” CEO Xiao Hong said. Manus
For Meta, a paid product with established usage offers a clearer path to revenue than many AI projects that are still in the demo stage.
Bloomberg said the agreement was struck in about 10 days and values Manus at more than $2 billion.
On its website, Manus markets tools that can create slides, build websites and automate routine work such as reminders and document tasks.
Meta is pushing into agents as Google and OpenAI expand their AI assistants toward more autonomous, task-based features, raising the stakes for speed, talent and distribution.
Meta did not give a closing timeline. The acquisition underscores how quickly the competition is shifting from conversational AI to software that can take actions — and the policy risks that come with buying technology built outside the United States.
