Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Manus, the fast-rising Singapore-based AI startup, in a deal valued at about $2 billion, marking one of Mark Zuckerberg’s boldest moves yet in the global AI race.
Manus shot to prominence this spring after a viral demo showed AI agents capable of handling complex tasks such as recruitment screening, travel planning, and portfolio analysis.
What sets Manus apart is not just its technology but its traction. The company has reportedly crossed $100 million in annual recurring revenue and attracted millions of users in a sector where many rivals are still struggling to monetize.
“Meta is buying proof that AI can actually make money,” said Ben Thompson, tech analyst and author of Stratechery. “That’s incredibly valuable right now.”
READ ALSO: Funke Akindele makes history as ‘Behind The Scenes’ smashes ₦1bn in record time
The startup’s rise was meteoric. Within weeks of launch, Benchmark led a $75 million funding round valuing Manus at $500 million, with earlier backing from firms including Tencent and HSG. “This is a textbook AI land grab,” said investor Sarah Guo. “Big Tech doesn’t want to risk losing breakout companies to competitors.”
For Meta, the deal helps justify its massive AI spending, which has unsettled investors. “Manus gives Zuckerberg a commercial success story to point to,” said Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management. “It strengthens the argument that Meta’s AI bets can pay off.”
Meta plans to keep Manus running independently while integrating its AI agents into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Analysts say that distribution could rapidly scale the product. “Access to billions of users changes everything,” noted Gartner analyst Arun Chandrasekaran.
The post Meta acquires AI startup Manus for $2bn in Zuckerberg’s Biggest AI bet appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
