Manus Resumes Independent Operations After China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Deal

AI agent startup Manus has officially resumed independent operations, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter that saw Meta’s $2 billion acquisition deal collapse due to Chinese regulatory intervention. The Singapore-based company’s founding team, including Xiao Hong, Zhang Tao, and Ji Yichao, has taken back control of Manus, positioning it as an “independent agent lab” focused on developing general-purpose AI agents. The saga began when Meta purchased Manus for $2 billion, propelling the startup from a $500 million valuation to a major Big Tech acquisition. However, Chinese regulators intervened, forcing the companies to unwind the deal and compelling Manus to…