Meta just bought one of the fastest-growing AI startups you've probably never heard of

Core Insights - Meta has acquired Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup with Chinese roots, for over $2 billion to enhance its AI capabilities [2][3] - The acquisition is part of Meta's strategy to catch up in the competitive AI landscape, following a significant investment of $14.3 billion in AI training data startup Scale AI earlier this year [3][5] - Manus will continue to operate independently under Meta, with a focus on integrating its AI technology into Meta's suite of products [4][6] Company Strategy - Meta's shift towards AI comes after a pivot from its initial focus on the metaverse, with plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. AI tech and infrastructure by 2028 [5] - The acquisition of Manus is expected to bolster Meta's AI product offerings across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp [3][8] Operational Changes - Following the acquisition, Meta plans to wind down Manus's operations in China and relocate remaining employees, ensuring no access to first-party user data from Meta's existing products [7][9] - Manus's CEO expressed that joining Meta will allow the company to build on a stronger foundation without altering its operational structure [4]