Mark Zuckerberg is in the spotlight again. Meta Platforms officially agreed to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup, in a deal reportedly valued at $2 billion.
While Meta and Manus did not disclose the financial details, the Wall Street Journal pegs the price tag at $2 billion. This matches the valuation Manus reportedly sought for its next funding round.
Manus has dominated Silicon Valley conversations since its debut last spring. Now, it belongs to Meta.
Manus is entering the next chapter: we’re joining forces with Meta to take general agents to the next level.
Full story on our blog: https://t.co/huPrnbITCi
— Manus (@ManusAI) December 29, 2025
Meta Chooses AI Agents over Chatbots
This acquisition signals a major shift. Meta isn’t just buying another chatbot… It is buying an “AI agent”. Unlike standard bots that simply talk, Manus autonomously performs complex tasks. It screens job candidates, plans vacations, and analyses stock portfolios. The startup even claims it outperforms OpenAI’s Deep Research.
Crucially, Manus makes money. The company recently announced it generates over $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and has signed up millions of users.
For Zuckerberg, this profitability is vital. Investors have grown nervous about Meta’s $60 billion infrastructure spending spree. Manus offers an immediate answer to those concerns as a working product that delivers real cash flow.
Manus CEO Xiao Hong celebrated the deal, stating:
The era of AI that doesn’t just talk, but acts, creates, and delivers, is only beginning.
Meta plans to keep Manus independent. However, it will weave these powerful AI agents into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to reach billions of users.
The China Connection
The deal is not without risks. Manus faces potential regulatory scrutiny due to its origins. The company was founded in Beijing in 2022 by Chinese founders before moving to Singapore in mid-2025.
Political hawks in Washington are already watching. Senator John Cornyn, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, previously criticised venture firm Benchmark for leading a $75 million round in Manus earlier this year. He raised concerns about American capital supporting a “Chinese concern”.
Meta is moving quickly to address these fears. A spokesperson told Nikkei Asia that Manus will discontinue all services and operations in China. Furthermore, there will be no continuing Chinese ownership interests following the transaction.
Despite the geopolitical wrinkles, Bloomberg Intelligence analysts note the purchase significantly expands Meta’s AI capabilities. Zuckerberg is betting big that this $2 billion investment will define the next phase of the AI arms race.
