This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Meta Platforms Inc. (META, Financials) said that it would acquire Chinese AI startup Manus to improve its social and corporate AI solutions. Wall Street Journal stated the sale is worth over $2 billion.Manus, a Singapore based subsidiary of Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology Ltd., launched an AI agent that surpassed OpenAI’s DeepResearch system earlier this year. The agent is a digital assistant that can study, automate, and decide without much input.Meta wants to sell and run the Manus AI agent after the purchase and incorporate its technology into Meta AI, WhatsApp, and business productivity applications. The purchase highlights Meta’s ambition to commercialize generative AI for consumer and corporate applications.Meta invested in Scale AI earlier this year, valuing the U.S. data-labeling startup at $29 billion and extending partnership with CEO Alexandr Wang. Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft are acquiring and hiring AI experts to bolster their portfolios.Chinese AI businesses are increasingly seeking operational independence from geopolitical difficulties, as Manus did in Singapore. Meta will strengthen its Asia Pacific AI market position and expand its worldwide research base with the purchase.
