Meta Platforms(US:META) Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-12-30 15:44Core Insights - Meta has completed the acquisition of AI startup Manus for over $2 billion, marking it as the third-largest acquisition in Meta's history [1][3] - Manus, founded by a Chinese team, has developed an "AI agent" capable of executing complex tasks autonomously, achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over $100 million in less than 10 months [1][7] - The acquisition is part of Meta's strategic shift towards AI, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally driving the deal [3][22] Acquisition Details - The acquisition price exceeds $2 billion, making it only second to the 2014 WhatsApp acquisition and the 2025 investment in Scale AI [3] - Manus was valued at $2 billion before Meta's intervention, which accelerated the acquisition process [3] - Following the acquisition, Manus founder Xiao Hong will become a vice president at Meta, reporting to COO Javier Olivan, while the team will maintain independent operations [2][26] Manus Growth and Performance - Manus's valuation skyrocketed from $1.4 million in seed funding to over $2 billion in less than three years, representing a growth of over 142 times [1][2] - The company achieved an ARR of over $100 million, making it the fastest startup to reach this milestone [7][8] - Manus's user base has grown significantly, with peak monthly visits reaching 13.56 million in August [15] Product and Market Position - Manus is positioned as a "general AI agent," distinguishing itself from other AI products by its execution capabilities, allowing users to complete complex tasks through natural language commands [11][19] - The AI agent has garnered a loyal user base, including notable figures such as Zuckerberg and former Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel [19] - Despite its success, Manus faces criticism for relying on third-party language models rather than developing its own foundational technology [19][25] Strategic Implications for Meta - The acquisition of Manus is seen as a critical move to fill gaps in Meta's AI strategy, particularly in creating user-facing applications [24] - Meta's aggressive AI strategy in 2025 included significant investments and restructuring to enhance its competitive position against companies like OpenAI and Google [22][24] - However, experts caution that acquiring Manus does not address Meta's weaknesses in foundational AI models, which remain a critical component of its long-term strategy [25]