The $2 Billion Bet: Why Meta Just Bought the World’s Fastest-Growing AI Startup

Meta has confirmed the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-headquartered AI startup that rose to prominence after eight months on the market, surpassing $100 million in annual recurring revenue. The company behind Manus is affiliated with Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology, the group best known for developing the Monica AI assistant.

According to official figures, Manus focuses on executing complex research and automating workflows on behalf of users, with its eight-month ARR exceeding $100 million and, by early December, processing more than 147 trillion tokens and spinning up over 80 million virtual machines to carry out tasks.

Manus Chief Executive Xiao Hong stated that the company will continue to operate from Singapore and offer subscription services through its app and website, while Meta’s deal aims to embed Manus’s technology into its own products and strengthen its broader push toward “super intelligence.” The article notes that Meta’s true value in the deal lies in integration across its ecosystem, potentially benefiting platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger.