Meta acquires AI startup Manus, adding millions of paying users

Meta has acquired Manus, an artificial intelligence startup that has built a large base of paying users. The acquisition highlights Meta’s push to expand its AI offerings beyond research and into revenue-generating consumer products.

Who is Manus?

Manus is an AI startup that offers consumer-facing AI tools and services.

According to reporting:

• Manus has millions of paying users
• The company has demonstrated strong consumer adoption
• Revenue is driven primarily through subscriptions

The scale of Manus’s user base makes it one of the more commercially established AI startups acquired by a major tech company.

Why Meta bought Manus

The acquisition aligns with Meta’s broader AI strategy.

Key motivations include:

• Gaining an existing, monetized AI user base
• Accelerating consumer AI product development
• Strengthening Meta’s position in paid AI services

Rather than building a similar product from scratch, Meta gains immediate scale and market validation.

Strategic importance for Meta’s AI roadmap

Meta has invested heavily in AI models, infrastructure, and research.

This deal:

• Shifts focus toward consumer adoption and revenue
• Complements Meta’s AI efforts across apps and platforms
• Signals increased interest in subscription-based AI products

The acquisition reflects a move from experimentation to commercialization.

AI acquisition trend among Big Tech

Meta’s purchase of Manus fits a wider industry pattern.

Across the sector:

• Large tech firms are acquiring AI startups with proven demand
• Paying users are becoming a key valuation driver
• Monetization is increasingly prioritized over raw model capability

Established user traction now matters as much as technical innovation.

What happens next

Meta has not disclosed detailed integration plans.

However, likely outcomes include:

• Incorporation of Manus technology into Meta’s AI ecosystem
• Expansion of AI features across Meta’s consumer platforms
• Further focus on subscription and premium AI offerings

Financial terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed.

Conclusion

By acquiring Manus, Meta adds both technology and a large base of paying users to its AI portfolio. The move underscores a broader shift among tech giants toward scalable, revenue-backed AI products as competition in the AI market intensifies.