Tencent Bids for AI Startup Manus After Beijing Blocked Meta

Tencent is in advanced talks to acquire a majority stake in AI agent startup Manus at a $2 billion valuation, months after Beijing forced Meta to unwind its own $2 billion deal for the same company. The episode illustrates how China is actively shaping who controls its most promising AI assets, redirecting them toward domestic tech giants rather than American buyers. Manus is reported to be generating around $500 million in annual revenue.