What is Manus, the Chinese-founded AI startup Meta is buying for over $2 billion? (www.businessinsider.com)

Meta has announced its acquisition of Manus, a Chinese-founded AI startup, for over $2 billion, marking a significant investment in cutting-edge AI technology. Manus, known for its "general" AI agent that autonomously executes tasks ranging from résumé screening to data analysis, has gained traction and recently surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Founded by Xiao Hong and Ji Yichao, the startup aims to enhance productivity through its innovative AI tools. Following the acquisition, Xiao will take on a vice president role at Meta while Manus will continue to operate as a standalone product, integrating its technology into Meta's broader AI ecosystem. This deal is pivotal as it highlights the competitive landscape of AI development and raises questions around the integration of companies with ties to China amid escalating US-China tensions. Meta's spokesperson assured that once the acquisition is complete, Manus would sever its connections to China, ending its services there and geo-blocking access to Meta's AI models. The acquisition not only provides Meta with potential revenue boosts and a strategic advantage in AI distribution but also emphasizes the growing interest from major tech players in acquiring innovative AI startups to reinforce their technological capabilities.