2025 ends with a bet on agents. 2026 is the year they go to work.
Meta's purchase of Manus shows where Big Tech thinks AI is heading: from answering questions to finishing tasks.
By the Xuru Technologies team · 31 December 2025
Key takeaways
- Meta agreed to buy Manus, maker of a general-purpose AI agent, in a deal reported at more than $2 billion.
- Agents that research, fill forms and complete multi-step jobs are now the main battleground in AI.
- Businesses that prepare clean data and clear processes will benefit first.
Manus became famous in 2025 for an agent that could take a goal, such as "research these suppliers and build a comparison", and work through it step by step. Meta now wants that capability inside its own products.
What happened
Meta announced the acquisition at the end of December, AP reported, as part of its push to compete in advanced AI. Business Today put the value at over $2 billion, and IT Brief described the plan to bring general-purpose agents to Meta's users and businesses.
What it means for businesses
- Agents will meet your customers. Expect AI assistants inside messaging apps to book, compare and buy on people's behalf.
- Your website must be readable by machines. Clear services, policies, availability and contact details help agents choose you.
- Internal work changes too. Research, reporting and admin are the first tasks agents take over.
Tasks agents handle well today
| Task | Guardrail |
|---|---|
| Competitor and supplier research | Check sources before decisions. |
| Lead qualification from web forms | A person approves the follow-up. |
| Booking and rescheduling | Limit the agent to your calendar only. |
| Weekly performance summaries | Read-only access to analytics. |
Frequently asked questions
What is Manus?An AI agent product that completes multi-step tasks, such as research and data gathering, with little human input. Meta agreed to acquire it in December 2025.
An AI agent product that completes multi-step tasks, such as research and data gathering, with little human input. Meta agreed to acquire it in December 2025.
What is the difference between a chatbot and an AI agent?A chatbot answers questions. An agent takes actions, such as searching, filling forms or updating systems, to complete a goal.
A chatbot answers questions. An agent takes actions, such as searching, filling forms or updating systems, to complete a goal.
How can a small business prepare for AI agents?Keep website information accurate and structured, offer online booking and clear contact options, and start with one low-risk internal automation.
Keep website information accurate and structured, offer online booking and clear contact options, and start with one low-risk internal automation.
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