Meta is taking concrete steps to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of Manus, the Chinese‑origin AI startup that it bought in December. Bloomberg reported that the social‑media giant has isolated Manus from its internal systems, ending data sharing and preventing employees from accessing Manus tools for internal projects. The move follows a divestiture order issued by Beijing roughly two months ago, which cited national‑security concerns over the transfer of strategically sensitive technology.
While Meta works to complete the operational separation, Manus’ co‑founders have begun preliminary talks with outside investors to raise about $1 billion. Sources say the capital would enable the founders to repurchase the company, potentially restructuring it as a Chinese joint venture and positioning it for a future listing on the Hong Kong exchange. Recent AI listings in Hong Kong, such as MiniMax and Zhipu, have attracted investor interest, making the venue attractive for Chinese AI firms seeking public markets.
The forced unwind underscores Beijing’s determination to retain control over emerging technologies, regardless of a company’s offshore incorporation. In the weeks after the order, Chinese authorities expanded travel restrictions for researchers and executives at private firms, requiring government approval for any overseas trips. The government also tightened oversight of foreign capital, with reports that top AI companies—including Moonshot AI, StepFun and ByteDance—must obtain state sign‑off before accepting U.S. investment.
Despite the separation, Manus continues to ship new product features. The startup recently announced integrations with Similarweb and Shopify, signaling that its development pipeline remains active even as the ownership dispute unfolds.
Manus’ investors include California‑based Benchmark, as well as Asian backers such as Tencent, HSG and ZhenFund. Benchmark has already received its proceeds from the original acquisition, while the Asian investors have indicated willingness to cooperate with the unwinding process. The transaction drew attention in Washington, where Senator John Cornyn questioned whether American capital should flow to a firm with Chinese ties.
Both Meta and Manus declined to comment outside regular business hours. The situation illustrates the growing friction between U.S. tech firms seeking to acquire Chinese AI talent and a Chinese government that is increasingly vigilant about foreign control of its strategic sectors.
Cet article a été rédigé avec l'assistance de l'IA.
News Factory APP - actualités agentiques pour booster votre SEO et AEO.