Manus Agents Launches on Telegram First Despite Meta Ownership—Here’s Why It Matters

In a surprising move that’s shaking up the AI and messaging app landscape, Manus—the Chinese-founded AI powerhouse recently acquired by Meta for over $2 billion—has chosen Telegram as the first platform to roll out its highly anticipated personal AI agents. This decision comes despite Meta’s ownership of WhatsApp, one of Telegram’s biggest rivals, and has sparked intense speculation about strategy, competition, and the future of AI integration in messaging.

Manus burst onto the global stage last March with its “revolutionary” AI agent, earning glowing praise from outlets like Forbes, which called it a game-changer in autonomous AI. Now, the company is bringing that same cutting-edge technology to everyday users through messaging apps, starting with Telegram.

What Makes Manus Agents Special?

Manus Agents are designed to be more than just chatbots. According to the company, these AI agents boast “full reasoning, tools, and multi-step task execution” capabilities. That means users can conduct complex research, structure data, and make detailed requests—all within a chat interface. The agents can even transcribe voice messages and “understand intent” to carry out tasks with impressive accuracy.

The rollout on Telegram allows users to choose between two versions of the AI model: Manus 1.6 Max for deeper reasoning and creativity, and Manus 1.6 Lite for faster, everyday tasks. To get started, users simply scan a QR code, and the agent is ready to assist—without accessing any other conversations, groups, or contacts. Manus promises that privacy is a top priority, with the AI only able to see messages sent directly to it.

Why Telegram First?

The choice to launch on Telegram first is intriguing, especially given Meta’s ownership of WhatsApp. Some industry watchers see this as a strategic move to reach a broader, more privacy-conscious audience, as Telegram is often favored by users wary of mainstream platforms. Others speculate it could be a way for Meta to test the waters and gather feedback before integrating Manus Agents more deeply into its own ecosystem.

Manus co-founder Zhang Tao hinted at rapid expansion, revealing on X (formerly Twitter) that the agents will soon be available on WhatsApp, Line, Slack, and Discord. This multi-platform approach could position Manus as a dominant player in the AI assistant space, challenging both established tech giants and emerging startups.

The Meta Connection and Regulatory Hurdles

Manus’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Founded in China and headquartered in Singapore, the company operates under the umbrella of Butterfly Effect Technology. Last year, Meta acquired Manus for more than $2 billion as part of its aggressive push into agentic AI—technology that can act autonomously on behalf of users.

The acquisition followed a $75 million funding round that valued Manus at $500 million, with US VC Benchmark joining the investment. Under the deal, Meta can operate and sell the Manus service, as well as integrate it into its own products. However, Manus retains the ability to sell subscriptions through its own app and website, preserving some independence.

But the deal hasn’t been without controversy. China’s Ministry of Commerce launched an investigation shortly after the acquisition to determine whether Meta violated the country’s laws on technology exports and outbound investment. Chinese regulations require government approval for the export of certain technologies, including AI, raising questions about the future of Manus’s operations and partnerships.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Commission recently accused Meta of “effectively” barring third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp, a move that could further complicate Manus’s rollout on Meta-owned platforms.

What’s Next for Manus and the AI Assistant Race?

With Manus Agents now live on Telegram and more platforms on the horizon, the race for dominance in the AI assistant market is heating up. Manus’s technology is similar to the Austrian-made open-source OpenClaw, which was acquired by OpenAI over the weekend, signaling a wave of consolidation and competition in the sector.

As AI agents become more sophisticated and ubiquitous, questions about privacy, regulation, and market control will only grow louder. For now, Manus is betting big on messaging apps as the next frontier for AI, and its bold moves are sure to keep the tech world watching closely.

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