Meta Acquires Singaporean AI Startup Manus for Over $2 Billion, Signaling Major Bet on Autonomous Intelligence

American technology titan Meta has officially finalized its acquisition of the Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup, Manus, for a staggering sum exceeding two billion dollars. This transaction stands out as one of the most significant AI deals of 2025. Industry analysts widely interpret this move as a crucial strategic maneuver by Meta amidst the escalating technological rivalry between the United States and China.

Manus gained considerable recognition following the March 2025 debut of its proprietary General AI Agent. This next-generation system possesses the capability to independently plan, execute complex tasks, and deliver complete work outputs with minimal human oversight. Unlike conventional generative chatbot technologies, Manus’s core focus is action-oriented. The agent can autonomously devise detailed travel itineraries, conduct sophisticated stock market analysis, generate functional software code, and execute comprehensive marketing research projects.

According to figures released by both parties involved in the transaction, Manus will temporarily operate as a distinct entity, maintaining its headquarters in Singapore. Furthermore, the startup will continue offering its subscription-based services. By early December 2025, the startup’s annual recurring revenue had already surpassed the $100 million mark, demonstrating the technology’s significant commercial viability at the time of the purchase.

Meta has articulated that integrating Manus’s advanced capabilities will enable the company to deploy “one of the leading general-purpose autonomous agents” to its billions of users across its entire product ecosystem, including Meta AI and various business solutions. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently emphasized that autonomous AI agents represent the inevitable next frontier for artificial intelligence, succeeding the current wave of generative models.

Xiao Hong, the Founder and CEO of Manus, characterized the deal as a crucial step toward establishing a “more robust and scalable foundation” for AI development—one that “not only speaks but acts, creates, and delivers measurable results.” He suggested that the partnership with Meta will dramatically accelerate the global deployment of the technology.

The announcement also specifically addressed the geopolitical dimensions of the acquisition. Meta confirmed that, post-closing, Manus will not have any ownership ties or operational presence within China. This follows Meta’s earlier decision in 2025 to relocate its regional headquarters from China to Singapore, a move widely seen as a proactive measure to mitigate potential regulatory and political risks.

Experts view the acquisition of Manus as perfectly aligned with Meta’s broader strategy of aggressively expanding its AI competencies. Throughout 2025, the company significantly ramped up its investments in computational infrastructure and executed several high-profile acquisitions within the artificial intelligence sector.

Analysts further stress that the substantial price tag of the deal underscores the rapidly increasing valuation placed on functional AI systems capable of handling intricate tasks autonomously, moving beyond mere text or image generation. As the global race for technological supremacy intensifies, autonomous AI agents are increasingly viewed as the linchpin of the future digital economy.

The merger between Meta and Manus clearly illustrates that the contest for leadership in artificial intelligence is evolving beyond pure research. It is now transitioning into a phase dominated by large-scale strategic acquisitions that carry profound economic and geopolitical ramifications for the global landscape.