Meta acquires the Chinese AI startup Manus for billions of dollars

Thekabarnews.com – Meta’s purchase shows that the company is moving beyond chatbots. They are now progressing towards AI agents capable of autonomous planning, decision-making, and action.

According to Reuters, Meta Platforms has officially declared that it has acquired the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup Manus for billions of dollars. This is the company’s third-largest acquisition to date.

This move demonstrates Meta’s ambition to lead the next wave of AI, moving beyond chatbots to autonomous AI systems.

A Strategic Bet on AI Agents That Work on Their Own

Manus, started by Xiao Hong and still run by him, is known for producing general-purpose AI agents. These agents can perform difficult, multi-step tasks and find information independently. Manus’ technology is different from traditional AI assistants because it does not need a lot of help from people to work.

Xiao and his core engineering team will join Meta, but they will keep their own operational structure. This will keep Manus’ research culture intact as development speeds up in Meta’s AI section.

Going Beyond Chatbots

People who watch the industry say that the purchase is a clear hint that Meta is moving away from simple conversational AI. They are heading toward systems that can plan, reason, and act. People think that these advanced agents are a crucial step toward automating digital workflows. They could solve real-world problems on a large scale.

One expert in the field noted, “Action-oriented AI is the next frontier.” “Meta is wagering that freedom, not discussion, will shape the future of AI.”

Connecting WhatsApp and Instagram

Meta is likely to add Manus’ technology to its main platforms, such as WhatsApp and Instagram. In the future, the AI agents might be able to automatically handle schedules, finish jobs, organize information, and carry out user requests. Consequently, such capabilities would greatly cut down on the need for people to interface with computers.

These kinds of features might turn Meta’s apps from communication tools into smart digital assistants. These assistants would always be there to help you.

Making the Global AI Race More Intense

The purchase comes at a time when big tech businesses around the world are fighting hard for talent and infrastructure in AI. Businesses like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are putting a lot of money into AI. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has said many times that AI is at the heart of the company’s long-term plan. He has called it “the most critical technology transition of our time.”

Despite not disclosing the financial details, the stated size of the deal underscores the heightened stakes in the global competition for AI dominance.

A Key Moment in Meta’s AI Strategy

Meta is making one of its most daring statements yet by buying Manus: AI will not only respond, it will also act. The business is ready to spend billions to make sure it stays in charge of that future.