Meta buys Manus to boost general-purpose AI agents

Meta has acquired Singapore-based artificial intelligence start-up Manus, adding an autonomous general-purpose AI agent to its portfolio and signalling a fresh push into automated research and workflow tools for consumers and businesses.

The deal will see Manus and its subscription product continue to operate under the Manus name, while its team and technology sit inside Meta. The companies did not disclose financial terms.

Manus, founded in Singapore, has developed a so-called General AI Agent that executes multi-step tasks such as market research, coding and data analysis with limited human oversight. The system acts as an execution layer that links large AI models with virtualised computing resources.

Meta said it intends to weave Manus's agent into its existing consumer and business products, including Meta AI, while leaving the current Manus service in place for existing customers.

In a statement, Meta said Manus already serves the daily needs of millions of users and businesses worldwide through its current subscription service. The product is accessed via Manus's app and website and will remain available on those channels.

Manus said it will continue to operate from Singapore and will maintain its current product roadmap and decision-making structure under Meta's ownership. The company said it aims to expand its subscription offering over time across Meta's platforms.

"Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made," said Xiao Hong, CEO, Manus.

The company launched its first General AI Agent earlier this year. Since launch, Manus said the agent has processed more than 147 trillion tokens and supported the creation of over 80 million virtual computers for users.

Tokens are units of text that AI systems process during tasks such as summarisation, code generation and query handling. The reported volume suggests significant early uptake among users experimenting with large, automated workflows.

Manus positions its software as a system that can handle end-to-end work in real-world settings. The company said its agent focuses on research, automation and complex digital tasks that may span multiple applications and data sources.

Meta said Manus has built one of the leading autonomous general-purpose agents in the market. The social media and technology group plans to scale the service to many more businesses that already use its platforms.

Manus's workforce will join Meta's internal AI teams. Meta said the incoming staff will work on delivering general-purpose agents that sit across its family of apps and business tools.

The move comes as large technology companies invest in AI assistants that carry out longer, more complex sequences of work than traditional chatbots. These agents often combine language models, planning systems and software integrations with email, spreadsheets, development tools and web browsers.

Meta has made AI a central part of its product strategy across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and its virtual and mixed reality devices. It has also introduced Meta AI as a branded assistant embedded in messaging and search experiences.

Manus said it has spent the past months iterating on its product in live use. It has focused on improving reliability across a growing range of use cases, including business research workflows and software development tasks.

The company said its agent currently drives value for millions of users worldwide. It plans to reach more businesses and individual users through deeper integrations with Meta's services over time.

Meta said it will also keep selling and operating the Manus service in its current form. It plans to integrate the underlying agent technology into its own products separately.

Manus stated that its top priority remains continuity for existing customers. The company said it expects no disruption to current subscriptions or service access as a result of the transaction.

Hong said the team behind Manus expects the combination with Meta to enlarge the addressable user base for its agent technology. "We're excited about what the future holds with Meta and Manus working together and we will continue to iterate the product and serve users that have defined Manus from the beginning," said Hong.