Meta says it will fully sever Manus's China ties after acquiring the AI startup (www.businessinsider.com)

Meta has announced its acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus, signaling a major step in its quest to enhance general-purpose AI capabilities across its consumer and business products. As part of the deal, Meta will fully sever Manus's remaining ties to China, including discontinuing any Chinese ownership interests and winding down its limited operations in the country. This decision comes amidst rising political scrutiny in the U.S. regarding investments in China-linked AI ventures, with concerns surrounding economic competition and national security. Manus, which relocated to Singapore in 2025 after its founding in China, has developed an autonomous AI agent capable of executing complex tasks like market research, coding, and data analysis without significant human involvement. The integration of Manus's technology into Meta's offerings aims to provide advanced AI tools while implementing safeguards to mitigate risks. Moreover, Meta's commitment to geo-gate its AI models ensures that the data privacy of its users is maintained. With the acquisition, Meta is poised to deliver AI solutions to billions of users and millions of businesses, further solidifying its presence in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.