META Platforms’ (META) Manus Acquisition Another Step in the Right Direction

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the 8 best American stocks to buy and hold in 2026. As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its AI capabilities, Meta announced on December 30 that it had acquired Manus, a Singapore-based developer of general-purpose AI agents. Through this acquisition, the tech giant will enhance the integration of advanced AI into its business and consumer products.

Meta App 3D sign

Manus was originally founded in China by Butterfly Effect Technology before relocating its headquarters to Singapore. Earlier this year, the firm introduced its first general AI agent. This AI agent is designed to carry out complex tasks such as coding, market research, and data analysis.

CEO of Manus, Xiao Hong, highlighted in a company release:

”Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made.”

Although the financial terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported that the transaction was valued at more than $2 billion, citing sources familiar with the acquisition. According to the report, when Meta initiated acquisition talks, the startup was seeking new funding, which valued it at approximately $2 billion.

This acquisition supports META CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s emphasis on data centers, AI infrastructure, and monetization beyond metaverse initiatives.

Meta pointed out how it intends to leverage Manus’s services across its business segments:

”Manus is already serving the daily needs of millions of users and businesses worldwide … We plan to scale this service to many more businesses.”

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) develops products that enable people to share and connect with family and friends across personal computers, mobile devices, augmented reality, wearables, and virtual and mixed reality headsets. The company operates through the Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL) segments.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of META as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than META and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT:  Cathie Wood’s Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stocks to Buy and 30 Most Fantastic Stocks Every Investor Should Pay Attention To.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.