Meta buys Manus: the future of AI agents arrives on WhatsApp
Meta (the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) acquired Manus, a Singapore-based startup specializing in "AI agents" — programs that can perform complex tasks autonomously, like managing emails, organizing files, or making reservations, without a person needing to be in front of the computer.
The acquisition comes amid a race to dominate AI agents in the tech industry. In March 2025, Meta had acquired another AI film startup, InterPositive (associated with Ben Affleck), for up to $600 million depending on goals met.
Mark Zuckerberg has said his vision is that every user has a "personal AI agent" that works on their behalf. Integration with WhatsApp could mean that in the future your AI assistant manages conversations, schedules meetings, or buys things for you automatically.
Source: Reuters / AP News
What does this mean for you?
AI agents are moving from experiments to real products on massive platforms. Meta's purchase of Manus confirms that the next step of AI in your daily life is not just to chat, but to do tasks for you. Get ready to delegate more to your digital assistant.