Chinese AI agent startup Manus will soon resume operations as an independent company after a $2 billion deal to be acquired by Meta fell through. CNBC reported on Aug. 11 that separation work has been under way after Chinese regulators demanded in April that Manus and Meta withdraw the transaction.
Manus is a general-purpose AI agent developer founded in China in 2022 and later moved to Singapore.
Meta announced the acquisition of Manus last December.
The deal drew attention in China and the United States immediately after it was announced, and Chinese authorities investigated whether it violated rules on foreign investment.
China's National Development and Reform Commission in April ordered the two sides to withdraw the transaction. A complex process to unwind the acquisition then began, and China later tightened technology export controls related to overseas transactions.
Meta planned to apply Manus technology to consumer and enterprise products.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr