Mark Zuckerberg just closed one of Meta’s biggest AI deals to date by purchasing Manus, a startup that went from zero to $100 million in revenue in less than a year. While most of us are used to AI that just answers questions or writes emails, Manus is different because it actually does the work for you. It uses its own “virtual computers” to browse the web, analyze data, and even write and test code. This matters for your business and life because it signals the end of the “chatbot era.” We are moving toward a world where your AI assistant does not just give you advice; it acts like a digital employee that completes entire projects while you focus on other things.
Why is Manus worth a whopping $2 Billion?
The reason Meta paid such a high price is that Manus solved a problem that even the biggest tech companies have been struggling with: reliability. Most AI “hallucinates” or gets lost when a task has too many steps. Manus uses a multi-model system that can plan a project, execute the steps, and correct its own mistakes along the way. In one demonstration, the system was asked to find the best job candidate from a folder of resumes. It autonomously opened the files, read the content, ranked the people based on the job description, and produced a final report.
For Meta, this is the missing piece of the puzzle. They have spent over $70 billion on data centers and hardware, but they have not had a high-end, paid service that generates real money. Manus already has a working subscription model with millions of users. By bringing this tech into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta is positioning itself to be the primary tool for small businesses and creators who need automated help with marketing, customer service, and data analysis.
What about the geopolitical angle?
This deal almost did not happen because of Manus’s history. The company was originally founded in China under a parent firm called Butterfly Effect before moving its headquarters to Singapore in 2025. To make the acquisition work, Meta had to agree to some very strict rules. They confirmed that all Chinese investors would be bought out and that Manus would shut down all operations within mainland China.
This matters for the tech industry because it shows how difficult it has become for companies with Chinese roots to operate in the US. Even after moving to Singapore, the deal is currently being reviewed by Chinese officials for potential technology export violations. For the user, this means that while the tech is world-class, it is also caught in a global tug-of-war. Meta is going to great lengths to ensure that Manus is seen as a fully Western product to avoid any security concerns from US regulators.
How does this acquisition affect Meta AI?
With Manus in the fold, the way we use Meta’s apps is about to change. Instead of just seeing ads on Instagram, you might interact with an AI agent that helps you book a whole vacation or manage your stock portfolio directly within the app. Meta’s Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, has already started hiring for a new lab in Singapore to expand the Manus team.
They are also looking at how this fits into their smart glasses. Imagine wearing Meta Ray-Bans and asking the AI to “research this product and find the best price,” and having it actually complete the purchase and track the shipping for you. The goal is to create a “superintelligence” that understands your life and helps you reach your goals. It is a bold bet that 2026 will be the year when AI stops being a novelty and starts being a necessity for getting things done.
