Meta’s Manus AI Unit Runs Get-Rich-Quick Ad Campaign
Meta Platforms’ Manus AI division is running advertising campaigns that promise consumers quick profits using artificial intelligence tools to build and sell websites to local businesses, according to a report published Wednesday by The Verge.
The campaign, tied to the AI company Meta acquired for $2 billion last year, pays content creators to promote a business model in which users find local businesses without websites or with poorly designed ones, use Manus’s AI tools to build replacements, and then cold-call the businesses to sell them, The Verge reported.
According to The Verge, the ads follow a familiar playbook associated with get-rich-quick schemes — influencer endorsements, promises of easy income and low barriers to entry — but apply it to AI-powered website generation, a category that has grown rapidly over the past two years.
Regulatory Landscape
The campaign comes at a time when federal regulators have shown increasing interest in how AI products are marketed to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly warned companies against making exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims about AI capabilities, and has taken enforcement actions against businesses that use AI-related buzzwords to deceive consumers.
While Meta has not been accused of violating any advertising regulations, The Verge noted the influencer-backed promotion of these monetization strategies could attract scrutiny from the FTC, which has also stepped up enforcement of disclosure requirements for paid endorsements and sponsored content.
The Manus Acquisition
Meta acquired Manus, which developed AI agent technology, in a deal valued at approximately $2 billion. The acquisition was part of Meta’s broader push into AI tools and autonomous agents under CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy to embed artificial intelligence across the company’s platforms and products.
The ad campaign raises questions about how major technology companies manage the marketing practices of their AI subsidiaries, particularly when those campaigns target consumers and small-business owners who may lack the technical expertise to evaluate the claims being made.
Industry Context
AI-powered website builders have become widely available from companies including Wix, Squarespace and numerous startups. While the technology can produce functional websites quickly, industry analysts have noted that the market for selling AI-generated websites to local businesses is far more competitive and less lucrative than get-rich-quick pitches typically suggest.
Meta did not immediately respond to questions about the advertising campaign’s compliance with its own advertising policies, according to The Verge’s reporting.
