China has blocked Meta\u2019s $2bn (\u00a31.5bn) acquisition of an AI startup as it cracks down on US investments in domestic tech companies.<\/p>\n
Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s Meta<\/a>, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced the acquisition of Manus, a developer of autonomous AI agents, in December.<\/p>\n However, the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Monday it had cancelled the takeover.<\/p>\n In a statement, China\u2019s top economic planning body said that it will \u201cprohibit the foreign investment in the acquisition of the Manus project\u201d and \u201crequires the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction\u201d.<\/p>\n Bloomberg reported last week that Chinese regulators are planning to block tech firms, including leading AI startups<\/a>, from accepting US investment without government approval.<\/p>\n Several private firms have reportedly been warned in recent weeks that they should reject US funding unless it receives explicit approval from Beijing, in a policy move triggered by the Manus deal.<\/p>\n Manus, which launched in Beijing but is now based in Singapore, described the deal as \u201cvalidation of our pioneering work with general AI agents\u201d.<\/p>\n