Big Moves Ahead: Manus AI and Meta's Secret Weekend Plan
Manus AI, a Singapore-based startup pioneering general-purpose AI agents, has been acquired by Meta in a deal valued at over $2 billion, announced just before the New Year's weekend to kick off major integrations across Meta's platforms.[1][3][4]
The Announcement That Shook Silicon Valley
On Monday, December 29, 2025, Manus revealed its acquisition by Meta, framing it as a partnership for the "next era of innovation." This move validates Manus's rapid rise since its spring 2025 launch, where a demo video showcased its AI agent handling tasks like screening job candidates, planning vacations, and analyzing stock portfolios—claims that positioned it ahead of OpenAI's Deep Research.[1][3]
Manus reported processing over 147 trillion tokens, powering 80 million virtual computers, and signing up millions of users with $100-125 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) from subscriptions.[1][3][4] Backed by investors like Benchmark ($75 million round at $500 million valuation), Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG, Manus had been negotiating with Meta amid its push for a next funding round at $2 billion.[3][4]
Meta, lagging behind OpenAI's GPT-5 and Google's Gemini 3 in agentic capabilities, sees Manus as a strategic buy to bolster its AI infrastructure amid $60 billion in spending.[2][3] Mark Zuckerberg's team plans to weave Manus's agents into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Meta AI, targeting consumer and business products while keeping Manus's subscription service running independently from Singapore.[1][2][3]
No Disruptions: Business as Usual with Bigger Ambitions
Manus CEO Xiao Hong emphasized continuity: "Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made."[1][2] The company will continue selling subscriptions via its app and website, iterating on features like market research, coding, data analysis, and integrations (e.g., Slack, browser operator).[1][2]
Meta intends to integrate Manus talent and technology directly, transitioning it from third-party models (including Chinese tech) to Meta's own, while cutting remaining China ties despite its Singapore base.[2][4] This ensures scalable, reliable AI agents for end-to-end real-world tasks, powering Meta's vision of "personal superintelligence."[5]
| Aspect | Before Acquisition | Post-Acquisition Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | Independent Singapore HQ, $100M+ ARR | Runs independently; subscriptions unchanged[1][3] |
| Tech Integration | Third-party models | Shifts to Meta models; into Meta AI, FB/IG/WA[2][4] |
| Scale | Millions of users, 147T tokens | Billions via Meta platforms[1][2] |
| Valuation/Deal | $500M post-money (2025) | $2B+ acquisition[3][4] |
Why This Was a "Secret Weekend Plan"
Negotiations heated up in mid-December 2025, per reports, aligning with Meta's year-end push amid investor scrutiny over AI costs.[3] The Monday announcement—timed post-holidays—feels like a calculated "secret weekend plan" to dominate 2026's AI agent race, especially as competitors like OpenAI and Google chase similar autonomy.[2][4][5]
This fits Meta's 2025 strategy: $14.3 billion in Scale AI, hiring Alexandr Wang as Chief AI Officer, and Meta Superintelligence Labs. Manus provides the context engineering layer—sophisticated handling of multi-step tasks between foundation models and apps—completing the puzzle.[5]
Big Moves Ahead: What 2026 Holds
Manus's autonomous agents, outperforming rivals in speed and reliability, position Meta to own the "platform layer" in AI agents.[4][5] Users gain seamless tools for research, automation, and complex workflows across Meta's ecosystem, while Manus expands from millions to billions.[1][2]
Challenges remain: Meta must scale Manus amid geopolitical shifts (e.g., ditching Chinese tech) and prove revenue against heavy infra bets.[3][4] Yet, with Manus's proven monetization—rare in AI—this deal signals Meta's aggressive catch-up, potentially redefining agentic AI for businesses and consumers alike.[3][5]
Stay tuned: As integrations roll out, expect demos blending Manus's power with Meta's reach, accelerating the shift to intelligent, executable AI.[1][2]
