Manus brings AI agents to Telegram despite Meta deal
Manus has officially launched its "Agents" mode on Telegram, allowing users to execute complex tasks directly within the chat. This strategic move comes despite the startup's acquisition by Meta in late 2025, suggesting that Zuckerberg's company is using Telegram as a neutral testing environment while the deal is still under review by Chinese authorities.
The integration brings full web version capabilities to mobile: multi-step tasks, research, data processing, and document creation. Users can choose between two specific models: Manus 1.6 Max for complex operations and Manus 1.6 Lite for quick queries. Manus specified that the agent does not have access to other user chats to ensure security, a critical issue given the current fragility of agentic technology.
Fabrizio's Analysis:
I find this move brilliant from a product engineering perspective. Meta is clearly using Telegram as a "sandbox" to test the resilience of its autonomous agents without risking the reputation of WhatsApp or Messenger in case of hallucinations or critical errors.
I am testing Manus 1.6 Max to automate data collection on the go, and the difference is palpable. Having an agent that executes multi-step tasks directly in a chat transforms the messaging interface into an accessible command line. If the execution holds up, this drastically reduces the friction between strategic thinking and technical operation when I am away from my desk.