Tech giant Meta buys Chinese-founded AI firm Manus

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by John PowerDecember 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In December 2025, Meta announced its acquisition of Manus, a Chinese-founded AI startup specializing in autonomous AI agents. Manus, which recently relocated to Singapore, developed an agent marketed as a "virtual colleague" capable of independent work. Meta plans to integrate Manus's technology into its products, aiming to improve the lives of billions of users and businesses. The deal represents a rare instance of US-China tech collaboration amidst ongoing rivalry. Manus's CEO views the acquisition as validation for the potential of autonomous AI, allowing them to scale their technology globally under Meta's umbrella.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Instagram 30% Facebook 30% Singapore 40% Xiao Hong ×250% China 60% United States 60% Manus ×780% Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) ×690%

Keywords

artificial intelligence 100% meta 90% manus 90% autonomous ai agent 80% acquisition 70% general-purpose agents 60% us-china tech rivalry 60% technology 50% virtual colleague 40%