Meta Buys Over Singapore-based startup Manus to ramp up its AI agent game

Meta is purchasing Singapore-based AI startup company Manus for more than US$2 billion, marking one of the tech giants' most significant AI-focused purchases to date.

According to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter, the acquisition price exceeds US$2 billion and reflects Meta’s intensifying push to strengthen its position in the global AI race. The deal would see Manus continue operating out of Singapore, even as it becomes part of Meta’s expanding AI ecosystem.

Manus has drawn attention for its work on general AI agents capable of independently carrying out complex tasks such as market research, software development and data analysis with minimal human oversight. Unlike traditional generative AI chatbots that rely heavily on user prompts, these agents are designed to execute end-to-end workflows autonomously.

In a statement released on Dec. 29, Meta highlighted Manus’ technological capabilities following the early-2025 launch of its first general AI agent, noting that the system can handle sophisticated multi-step tasks. Meta added that it plans to continue selling the Manus service while integrating its technology across Meta’s product lineup.

Founded under the parent company Butterfly Effect, Manus originally emerged in China before relocating its base to Singapore in mid-2025, according to reports from Business Insider. The startup’s commercial offerings include AI agents that can generate presentations, create illustrations and write code for web-based applications.

Financially, Manus had reportedly forecast annual revenue of around US$125 million earlier this year, according to The Business Times. The company previously secured a valuation close to US$500 million following an investment round led by U.S. venture capital firm Benchmark.

In a separate statement issued the same day, Manus confirmed that it would maintain its Singapore operations following the acquisition. CEO Xiao Hong welcomed the deal, saying that joining Meta would provide the company with greater stability and long-term resources without compromising its independence.

“Becoming part of Meta allows us to scale on a stronger and more sustainable foundation, while preserving how Manus operates and makes decisions.”

The acquisition aligns with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s aggressive strategy to prioritize artificial intelligence, as the company competes with rivals including OpenAI, Google and Microsoft. Meta has ramped up spending on AI talent and infrastructure, committing massive resources to new data centers and next-generation model development.

Zuckerberg has pledged hundreds of billions of dollars toward largely AI-related infrastructure projects in the United States, with a new flagship AI model expected to launch in spring 2026.

Earlier this year, Meta finalized a US$14.3 billion investment in Scale AI and reportedly recruited its CEO, Alexandr Wang — a deal that ranked among Meta’s largest, behind only its historic acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014.

If completed, the Manus deal would further cement Meta’s ambition to become a dominant force in advanced AI systems, particularly as competition intensifies around autonomous agents and real-world AI applications.