China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI firm Manus
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
China's top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission, has blocked Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus. The decision follows a regulatory review, during which two Manus co-founders, CEO Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao, were reportedly restricted from leaving China. Meta had announced its agreement to acquire Manus, an AI agent developed by a company founded in China and now based in Singapore, in December. Analysts had previously cautioned that the deal might face regulatory hurdles due to technological competition between Washington and Beijing. The National Development and Reform Commission stated it would "prohibit the foreign investment in the acquisition of the Manus project" and "requires the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction," citing adherence to "laws and regulations." Manus, created by startup Butterfly Effect, specializes in tasks such as summarizing resumes and creating stock analysis websites. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, though Bloomberg Intelligence analysts estimated its value could exceed $2 billion.
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