Chinese authorities are preventing two co-founders of artificial intelligence startup Manus from leaving the country. The move comes as regulators examine the company’s $2 billion acquisition by Meta Platforms Inc. for potential violations of investment rules.
The scrutiny focuses on Manus’s CEO and chief scientist, with Beijing considering penalties for key figures at the Singapore-based startup, which has Chinese origins.
Manus has gained attention for its AI agent capabilities, described as being similar to China’s DeepSeek, with the ability to perform complex tasks like property purchases, video game programming, stock analysis, and travel planning.
The situation heightens concerns surrounding the deal and suggests increased oversight of technology transfers involving Chinese companies and foreign acquisitions.