Meta buys high-profile AI startup Manus

Meta is now buying the hyped AI startup Manus for about $2 billion, TechCrunch reported. Founded in Singapore by former Chinese entrepreneurs, Manus gained widespread attention after a viral demo video showing an AI agent that could handle everything from job interviews to stock analysis.

Manus also recently announced that it had reached over $100 million in recurring annual revenue, and had several million users. This is despite the service costing between $39 and $199 a month.

Meta will let the company continue to operate independently but will integrate its AI agents into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The deal has raised political questions in the US because of Manus’s Chinese origins. Meta has assured that after the purchase, Manus will not have any Chinese owners or operations in China.