Manus

Manus is an artificial intelligence startup, originally founded in China. It gained recent attention due to its relocation of research operations from Shanghai to Singapore, mirroring similar moves by other tech companies amid increasing geopolitical tensions. This shift occurred before its acquisition by Meta, a major technology company. Meta's acquisition of Manus is noteworthy because it represents a rare instance of a US company acquiring a Chinese-founded AI firm, highlighting the ongoing tech rivalry between the US and China. Meta stated the acquisition would allow it to take over the operation of Manus’s self-learning AI agent, with the goal of improving the lives of billions. The acquisition and prior relocation underscore the impact of US-China tech restrictions on businesses and the increasing importance of supplier diversification for companies operating in Asia.