In a significant move within the global artificial intelligence landscape, tech giant Meta Platforms has acquired the Singapore-based AI startup Manus. The deal, announced on Monday, is notable as one of the first instances where a major U.S. technology company has purchased a startup with Chinese roots, highlighting the growing influence of Asia's AI ecosystem.
A Strategic Acquisition for Meta's AI Ambitions
The financial terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed. This purchase represents a new strategic direction for Meta, which has historically focused on open-source AI models. The company has stated it plans to continue operating and selling Manus's services while integrating them into its existing suite of social media products, which includes Instagram and WhatsApp.
"We plan to scale this service to many more businesses," Meta declared in its official announcement. This marks Meta's first major acquisition of an AI startup operating a frontier AI model. Analysts note that while Meta's current AI offerings are widely available for free, the company has successfully monetized AI through its advertising platforms, significantly boosting its profits.
The Rise of Manus AI
Manus, founded by Chinese entrepreneurs Tao Cheung and Xiao Hong, gained rapid popularity after previewing a powerful AI model in March 2025. This model demonstrated an impressive ability to produce detailed research reports and build custom websites from simple prompts.
This demonstration came shortly after the release of DeepSeek, another Chinese AI model that surprised Silicon Valley with its advanced capabilities. The founder of DeepSeek claimed it was developed using far less computing power than its American competitors, challenging prevailing assumptions in the industry.
Since its public launch in the spring, Manus has attracted millions of users, with a portion subscribing to use its models for complex tasks like data analysis, coding, and research. The startup's performance is regularly tested against top industry benchmarks and compared to leading models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and DeepSeek's R1.
Financial Momentum and Meta's AI Push
The acquisition follows a period of strong financial growth for Manus. Earlier in 2025, the startup raised $75 million in a funding round led by venture capital firm Benchmark. As part of that deal, Benchmark's general partner Chetan Puttagunta joined Manus's board of directors.
In a remarkable achievement, just eight months after its launch, Manus announced in December 2025 that it had crossed $100 million in annual recurring revenue. This rapid monetization likely made it an attractive target for Meta.
For Meta, this deal is part of a broader aggressive push into AI. After facing unexpected challenges earlier in the year while preparing to launch a new model, CEO Mark Zuckerberg initiated a major recruitment drive to build an elite AI team, offering top researchers and executives multimillion-dollar compensation packages.
The company also recently acquired a 49% stake in another AI startup, Scale AI, valuing that company at $29 billion. Scale AI's founder, Alexandr Wang, joined Meta as its chief AI officer.
Manus CEO Xiao Hong expressed optimism about the acquisition, stating in the announcement, "Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made." This suggests Manus will retain significant operational independence under Meta's ownership.
The acquisition of Manus underscores the increasingly global nature of AI innovation, where talent and breakthroughs from Asia are being rapidly integrated into the strategies of Western tech giants, setting the stage for the next phase of competition in artificial intelligence.
