The Asterisk on Benchmark’s Manus Exit
The Information
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Generative AI
AI Research
Benchmark’s investment in the startup behind the AI agent Manus drew flack last year from some venture capitalists who viewed the investment in the company, which was founded in Beijing, as a national security risk. But when Meta said in December that it was buying the startup, called Butterfly Effect, for over $2B, the early-stage venture capital firm’s bet seemed to pay off. Celebrating that deal may have been premature, though - or perhaps not, given possible legal hurdles in dismantling it.