Meta announced that it will acquire the Manus AI startup, as the company accelerates efforts to integrate advanced artificial intelligence across its platforms.

The financial terms were not disclosed. However, a source with direct knowledge of the matter revealed that the deal values the Singapore based company at between $2 billion and $3 billion.

Manus AI startup was founded by a Chinese team and is backed by its parent company, Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology. Earlier this year, the company raised $75 million at a valuation of around $500 million, the source said. U.S. venture firm Benchmark led the funding round. Other investors include HSG, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China, ZhenFund, and Tencent Holdings, according to PitchBook data.

The company gained global attention after it released what it described as the world’s first general AI agent. The system is designed to make decisions and execute tasks autonomously, with significantly less prompting than traditional AI chatbots. As a result, Manus went viral earlier this year on X.

In addition, Manus claims its AI agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch. The company also has a strategic partnership with Alibaba to collaborate on AI model development.

Following the acquisition, Meta said it will operate and sell the Manus service. It also plans to integrate the technology into its consumer and business products, including Meta AI.

Meanwhile, Beijing has shown interest in supporting Manus, reflecting broader efforts to advance artificial intelligence capabilities. At the same time, Manus is among several Chinese technology firms that have relocated operations to Singapore. This move is aimed at reducing the risk of operational disruptions linked to geopolitical factors.

More broadly, major technology companies have been increasing AI investments through acquisitions and talent hiring. Earlier this year, Meta invested in Scale AI in a deal that reportedly valued the data labeling company at $29 billion. The transaction also brought in its chief executive, Alexandr Wang.

Overall, the acquisition underscores Meta’s continued focus on expanding its AI portfolio amid intensifying global competition, as reported by Reuters.

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