Meta buys startup Manus in latest move to advance its artificial intelligence efforts

Acquisition Details - Meta is acquiring the AI startup Manus for over $2 billion to enhance its AI offerings across platforms [1] - Manus is a Singapore-based platform that launched its first general-purpose AI agent earlier this year, offering paid subscriptions for various tasks [2] Business Impact - Meta plans to scale Manus' services, integrating general-purpose agents into its consumer and business products, including Meta AI [3] - Manus has achieved significant growth, crossing $100 million in annual recurring revenue just eight months post-launch [4] Ownership and Operations - Following the acquisition, there will be no Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI, and the platform will cease operations in China while continuing in Singapore [5] - Manus will maintain its subscription services through its own app and website, ensuring operational continuity [3][5] Competitive Landscape - Meta's acquisition is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its AI capabilities amid competition from companies like Google and OpenAI [6] - The company previously made a $14.3 billion investment in AI data company Scale to bolster its AI development efforts [6]