Why China Wants to Block Meta’s Manus AI Acquisition: Explainer

Artificial intelligence “agents” that can carry out complex tasks with minimal human intervention are attracting heavy investment as giant technology companies look beyond chatbots to develop more autonomous systems.

One of the most prominent examples is Manus. The platform’s advanced capabilities caused a sensation when it was launched by a Chinese startup in early 2025. In December, Meta Platforms Inc., the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp, agreed to acquire it for more than $2 billion.

The future of Manus is now up in the air after the Chinese government said it would block the takeover. The decision comes amid ...