By Atoyebi Nike
Meta is set to acquire Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus as it steps up efforts to embed advanced AI tools across its consumer and enterprise platforms.
Sources familiar with the transaction told Reuters that the deal is valued between $2 billion and $3 billion, though the companies have not disclosed official financial terms.
The acquisition highlights Meta’s growing focus on commercial artificial intelligence products as global competition in the sector intensifies.
Manus, now headquartered in Singapore, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The startup gained widespread attention earlier this year after its AI agent went viral on X, formerly Twitter. Manus described the product as the world’s first general AI agent capable of making autonomous decisions and executing tasks with minimal human input.
Often described as “China’s next DeepSeek,” Manus has attracted interest from Chinese authorities and global technology firms. The company has claimed its AI agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch in certain tasks and maintains a strategic partnership with Alibaba on AI model development.
Meta said it plans to operate and commercialize Manus’ services while integrating the technology into its wider ecosystem, including Meta AI and other consumer and enterprise products. The company added that Manus will continue to operate independently even as its technology is embedded into platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
For Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has positioned artificial intelligence at the centre of the company’s long-term strategy, the acquisition reflects a shift toward AI platforms with proven revenue potential.
Manus recently disclosed that it has attracted millions of users and surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, placing it among a small group of AI startups with meaningful commercial scale.
Analysts say this revenue profile likely influenced Meta’s decision to pursue the acquisition at a multibillion-dollar valuation.
Manus is backed by its parent company, Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, and raised $75 million earlier this year at a valuation of around $500 million. The funding round was led by U.S. venture capital firm Benchmark, with participation from HSG (formerly Sequoia Capital China), ZhenFund, and Tencent Holdings, according to PitchBook data.
