Meta says it will fully sever Manus's China ties after acquiring the AI startup

Meta has officially acquired the Singapore-based AI startup Manus as part of its strategy to enhance general-purpose AI agents within its suite of products. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed to Business Insider, "This acquisition will allow us to deliver cutting-edge technology to our users while implementing safeguards to mitigate potential risks." Following the acquisition, all ties between Manus AI and Chinese ownership will be severed, and the startup will cease operations in China. Originally founded in China, Manus relocated to Singapore in mid-2025. This move is a significant advancement in Meta's AI initiatives, particularly focusing on developing autonomous agents capable of carrying out complex tasks such as market research, coding, and data analysis. Manus has reportedly developed an autonomous AI agent that can operate independently, and Meta plans to integrate this technology across both consumer and business platforms, including Meta AI. The company asserts that its acquisition will not disrupt existing customers, as Manus will continue to offer subscriptions through its app and website while maintaining its operations in Singapore. Since launching its first general AI agent in March 2025, Manus has made headlines by processing over 147 trillion tokens and managing more than 80 million virtual computers. However, the company's background has been under scrutiny, especially from political figures like Senator John Cornyn, who questioned US investments in Manus due to its Chinese roots amidst concerns about competition with Beijing. In response to these concerns, Meta stated that the acquisition will completely eliminate Manus's remaining connections to China, including any Chinese ownership interests. The deal also entails winding down Manus's limited business operations in China, including shutting down the AI assistant Monica.cn and relocating relevant employees. As part of this transition, a Meta spokesperson emphasized that Manus employees integrated into the company will have no access to customer data collected prior to the acquisition. Meta will continue to maintain geo-restrictions on its AI models. Manus has carved a niche as an execution layer for AI, focusing on transforming advanced models into practical systems for real-world applications. Despite facing challenges, such as data inaccuracies and execution errors during early testing, Manus is committed to refining its capabilities. "We are diligently working on product iterations to enhance the reliability and applicability of our technology across various real-world scenarios," the company remarked. Meta's incorporation of the Manus team aims to deliver general-purpose AI agents to billions of users and millions of businesses, aligning with the company's aggressive hiring and acquisition strategy in the AI sector.