News Summary

Chinese startup Manus AI has successfully raised $75 million in a recent funding round led by Benchmark, elevating its valuation to approximately $500 million. This funding marks a significant milestone for Manus AI, which focuses on developing AI agent tools. The new capital will be used to expand into international markets such as the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East. Manus AI’s valuation has increased nearly fivefold from its previous funding round, which included investors like Tencent and HSG (formerly Sequoia China). The company gained attention earlier this year with the launch of a demo for a general AI agent capable of performing various tasks, followed by the introduction of paid subscription plans.