Meta Platforms is making one of its boldest moves yet in the global artificial intelligence race. The social media giant has agreed to acquire Manus, a fast-growing AI startup based in Singapore, as it looks to turn years of heavy spending on artificial intelligence into real, usable products and revenue.

For Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, artificial intelligence is no longer just another technology experiment. It has become the company’s top priority. Meta is investing billions of dollars into hiring top researchers, building massive data centers, and developing powerful new AI models. The acquisition of Manus signals a clear shift from long-term research to tools that businesses and everyday users can start using now. Manus is best known for its AI agent, a type of software that can perform tasks on its own once given basic instructions. Unlike chatbots that need constant prompts, AI agents are designed to act more like digital employees. Manus’ agent can screen job resumes, plan travel itineraries, analyse stock data, and carry out research tasks with minimal human involvement.

This practical approach may be exactly what Meta needs. While the company has spent heavily on AI, investors have questioned when those investments would begin to generate meaningful returns. Manus already operates on a subscription model and had an annual revenue run rate of about 125 million dollars earlier this year. That gives Meta a ready-made product that can be sold to businesses almost immediately. The startup behind Manus is called Butterfly Effect. It was founded in China but later moved its headquarters to Singapore, a move that reflects a wider trend among Chinese tech companies seeking a more stable base amid rising tensions between China and the United States. Earlier this year, Butterfly Effect raised funding at a valuation close to 500 million dollars in a round led by US venture capital firm Benchmark. Meta has not disclosed the financial details of the acquisition.