China's commerce ministry says it plans to analyse Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus
ByCHAN HO-HIM AP concern writer
HONG KONG -- China said connected Thursday it would measure and analyse Meta’s acquisition of artificial quality startup Manus, successful a determination highlighting its exertion rivalry with the U.S..
Meta announced past week it was buying Manus, which is Singapore-based with Chinese roots, arsenic the California tech elephantine down Facebook and Instagram expands its AI offerings crossed its platforms.
It is simply a uncommon acquisition by a U.S. tech radical of an AI institution with Chinese roots, astatine a clip of heightened frictions betwixt Washington and Beijing.
On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong told reporters that it would enactment with applicable departments to measure and analyse whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus is accordant with Chinese laws and regulations.
Any enterprises engaging successful outward investment, exertion export, information transportation and cross-border mergers and acquisitions indispensable comply with Chinese laws, He said.
Meta and Manus did not instantly reply to requests for comment.
“Security has go the apical interest for Chinese policymakers,” said Gary Ng, a elder economist for Asia Pacific astatine concern slope Natixis. “Any tech transportation that could springiness the U.S. an borderline successful competitiveness volition beryllium heavy scrutinized.”
While the institution down Manus is Singapore-based Butterfly Effect Pte, its roots tin beryllium traced backmost to Beijing-registered entities which were founded successful China a fewer years ago.
Meta said past week determination would beryllium “no continuing Chinese ownership interests successful Manus AI” pursuing the acquisition, and that Manus would discontinue its services and operations successful China. Meta’s platforms including Facebook and Instagram are inactive banned successful China nether the country’s “Great Firewall”.
Manus said it would proceed to run successful Singapore, wherever astir of its employees are present based.
Cui Fan, a prof astatine the University of International Business and Economics successful Beijing, raised questions successful a nationalist station connected the Chinese societal media tract WeChat implicit the acquisition’s compliance with Chinese laws and exertion export controls.
“A cardinal question is whether immoderate technologies prohibited oregon restricted from export nether Chinese laws and regulations are exported without a license,” helium wrote.
The “general-purpose” AI cause released by Manus past twelvemonth tin autonomously execute multi-step analyzable enactment specified arsenic breaking down tasks into smaller steps. It tin beryllium utilized for escaped but besides offers paid subscription packages.
Last month, Manus said its yearly recurring gross had reached much than $100 million.
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Associated Press researcher Shihuan Chen successful Beijing contributed to this report.
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