On December 30, Meta unveiled that it had inked a deal to acquire the Chinese artificial intelligence startup Manus. This strategic move is designed to bolster Meta's AI technological prowess and expedite the incorporation of state-of-the-art AI technologies into both consumer-facing and enterprise-oriented products.

Post-acquisition, Meta will assume control of Manus's operations and sales. It will also weave Manus's core technologies into a variety of product lines. These encompass Meta AI assistants, enterprise-level AI solutions, and metaverse applications. Meanwhile, Manus will persist in providing products and subscription services via its App and website. It will also keep its operations running in Singapore. Manus's CEO, Xiao Hong, is set to take on the role of Vice President at Meta, reporting directly to CEO Zuckerberg.

This acquisition stands as Meta's third-largest merger and acquisition deal since its inception, with the transaction value surpassing US$2 billion.