Meta Platforms(US:META) 3 6 Ke·2025-12-30 10:38Core Viewpoint - Meta has completed the acquisition of the AI company Manus for a transaction amount of several billion dollars, which has shocked the tech community, especially given Manus's recent valuation of $2 billion for its next funding round [1][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition amount is reported to be in the range of $2 billion to $3 billion, making it Meta's third-largest acquisition to date, following WhatsApp and Scale AI [3][4]. - Manus will continue to operate independently post-acquisition, with its CEO, Xiao Hong, becoming Meta's Vice President responsible for general-purpose AI agents [3][4]. - The rapid negotiation process, taking only about ten days, indicates a strong consensus on the valuation between Meta and Manus [3][5]. Group 2: Strategic Importance of Manus - Meta views Manus as a critical component in its AI strategy, aiming to integrate its capabilities into Meta's extensive social and enterprise service platforms [5][6]. - Manus has demonstrated exceptional commercial growth, achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over $125 million within just eight months of launching its first product [5][6]. - The technology behind Manus has been validated under high-load conditions, processing over 147 trillion tokens and supporting more than 80 million virtual machines, showcasing its operational resilience [5][6]. Group 3: Market Context and Timing - The acquisition reflects Meta's urgency to adapt in a competitive AI landscape, drawing parallels to its previous strategic acquisitions during the early mobile internet era [6][7]. - The current market conditions and Manus's rapid growth made this acquisition a timely decision for both parties, with Manus achieving a valuation increase from $14 million to $2-3 billion in under three years [11][12]. - The deal has sparked discussions about the challenges faced by AI startups, particularly regarding profit margins and competition with larger firms [10][12]. Group 4: Investor Perspectives - Investors view the acquisition as a win-win situation, providing substantial returns for both the founders and early investors, with some expecting returns of 5-12 times their initial investments [11][12]. - There is speculation about the future of Manus's founding team within Meta, with differing opinions on whether they will remain long-term or if this marks the end of their entrepreneurial journey [12][13]. - The acquisition is seen as a milestone for the AI agent industry and a symbol of the global competitiveness of a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs [13].