Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup founded by a Chinese team, has been acquired by Meta Platforms in a deal valued at approximately $2 billion, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. The acquisition marks a milestone for Manus, which gained recognition earlier this year for its AI tool capable of producing in-depth research reports and building custom websites for paying users.
The acquisition is significant not only for Manus, but also because it represents a prominent case of a major U.S. technology company acquiring an AI product developed in Asia. Since its debut, the company has positioned itself as a leader in the growing market for AI agents that can autonomously perform complex, multi-step tasks.
Manus was developed by Butterfly Effect, a company founded in 2022 with early operations in Beijing and Wuhan, WSJ noted. After raising $75 million in funding from Benchmark, Manus relocated its headquarters to Singapore.
Under the acquisition, Manus will continue operating and selling its service while being integrated into Meta’s broader ecosystem of products. For Meta, the acquisition represents a strategic shift toward strengthening its presence in AI agents as it competes with companies such as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI.
