According to the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily, on December 30, global tech behemoth Meta unveiled its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of 'Butterfly Effect,' the creative force behind the renowned AI application Manus. This move has thrust the deal into the spotlight of the global tech arena. The once-bustling Manus office in Wuhan, China, now stands largely vacant, with a mere skeleton crew of three or four employees left behind. Meanwhile, its core business team has already made the move to Singapore.

It is reported that this acquisition marks Meta's third-largest merger and acquisition endeavor since its inception, trailing only behind its purchases of WhatsApp and Scale AI. As the world's inaugural general-purpose AI agent product, Manus has achieved remarkable feats. In less than a year since its debut, it has processed a staggering 147 trillion-plus user tasks, spawned over 80 million virtual computers, and catered to millions of users and businesses across the globe. By mid-December of this year, its annual recurring revenue (ARR) had soared past the $100 million mark.

Following the acquisition, Butterfly Effect is set to retain its operational independence at the company, team, and product levels. Simultaneously, it will forge deep integrations with Meta's core global consumer offerings. Founder Xiao Hong is poised to take on the role of Meta's Vice President.