Meta Buys Chinese-Founded AI Startup Manus to Strengthen Advanced Artificial Intelligence Push

Post by : Saif Nasser

Meta Platforms has announced that it will acquire Manus, a fast-rising artificial intelligence startup founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, as the company steps up its global push into advanced AI technology. The deal highlights Meta’s growing focus on building smarter and more independent AI systems that can work across its many products.

While Meta did not disclose the financial details of the deal, a source familiar with the transaction said Manus has been valued at between $2 billion and $3 billion. Manus is currently based in Singapore, even though its roots trace back to China. The company did not immediately comment on the acquisition.

Manus gained wide attention earlier this year after it launched what it described as the world’s first general AI agent. Unlike common chatbots that respond only when prompted, this AI agent is designed to make decisions and carry out tasks on its own, with far less human guidance. The product went viral on social media platforms, drawing praise and curiosity from tech experts around the world.

At one point, Manus was even compared to DeepSeek, another highly watched Chinese AI firm. The startup claimed that its technology could outperform some well-known research tools developed by major Western AI companies. This bold claim helped put Manus on the global AI map.

The Chinese government has shown interest in supporting Manus, seeing it as a symbol of innovation in artificial intelligence. The company also has a strategic partnership with Alibaba, one of China’s largest technology firms, to jointly develop and improve AI models.

Under the new deal, Meta said it would operate and sell the Manus service directly. The technology will be integrated into Meta’s consumer and business products, including Meta AI, which is used across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and enterprise tools. Meta believes the acquisition will help it build AI systems that are faster, smarter, and more useful for daily tasks.

This move fits into Meta’s wider strategy of investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The company faces strong competition from other tech giants that are also racing to lead the next phase of AI development. Earlier this year, Meta invested in data-labeling company Scale AI, a deal that valued the startup at $29 billion and brought in its young founder, Alexandr Wang, to play a key role in Meta’s AI efforts.

Manus itself has attracted strong investor interest. It raised $75 million earlier this year at a valuation of about $500 million. That funding round was led by U.S.-based venture firm Benchmark and included investors such as Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China. Manus is owned by its parent company, Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology.

In recent years, many Chinese technology firms have chosen to base themselves in Singapore. The city-state is seen as a stable global business hub and offers some protection from rising political and trade tensions between China and the United States. Manus followed this trend, hoping to reduce risks while expanding its global reach.

Meta’s acquisition of Manus shows how serious the company is about staying competitive in the fast-changing AI industry. By bringing in new technology, talent, and ideas, Meta aims to shape the future of artificial intelligence and keep its platforms at the center of digital life for billions of users worldwide.