China — Ekhbary News Agency
China has officially blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus, a developer of autonomous AI agents. This decision marks a significant escalation in Beijing's efforts to restrict US investments in its domestic technology companies, requiring explicit government approval for such deals.
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The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planning body, announced on Monday that it had cancelled the takeover. The NDRC stated it would "prohibit the foreign investment in the acquisition of the Manus project" and demanded the involved parties withdraw the transaction. This policy shift, reportedly triggered by the Manus deal, has seen several private Chinese tech firms warned to reject US funding unless it receives explicit approval from Beijing.
Global AI Rivalry and Manus's Role
Manus, which originated in Beijing but is now based in Singapore, described the acquisition as a validation of its work with general AI agents. These agents are designed to perform various tasks, such as planning holidays or handling customer queries, without human intervention. Meta, which is investing heavily in its AI initiatives, had intended for the deal to bring a "leading agent to billions of people." The blocking highlights the intensifying rivalry between China and the US, both leading AI superpowers, as they compete for dominance in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
