Meta has announced its plans to acquire Manus AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup. This move aims to speed up the deployment of AI features across its platforms and improve its AI agents and automation as competition in the global AI market grows.
According to a report by Reuters, the acquisition values Manus at over $2 billion, but Meta has not officially shared the financial details. The company stated that this move would help it include more powerful AI systems in both consumer and business products.
Why Manus AI matters to Meta
Manus AI is known for creating a general-purpose AI agent that acts like a digital employee. This system can perform tasks like research, data handling, and workflow automation with little user input. Earlier this year, Manus claimed that its AI agent outperformed similar research-focused AI tools in internal tests.
The report also notes that Meta plans to operate and commercialize the Manus AI agent, adding it to services like Meta AI and other enterprise tools. The company believes these features will make its AI offerings more useful for real-world situations.
Part of a larger AI investment strategy
The Manus deal is part of Meta broader trend of investing in AI. Earlier, the company invested in Scale AI, valuing the data-labeling firm at $29 billion and bringing its CEO, Alexandr Wang, closer to Meta’s ecosystem.
Meta has been increasing spending on AI infrastructure, hiring talent, and forming strategic partnerships to keep up with competitors developing large language models and AI agents.
Manus AI operates out of Singapore, a trend among some Chinese tech firms seeking operational stability amid the ongoing US-China tensions. For Meta, this acquisition provides access to advanced AI agent technology while strengthening its position in a busy and rapidly evolving AI market.
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