China has restricted two co-founders of the artificial intelligence startup Manus from leaving the country as authorities review Meta’s US$2 billion acquisition of the firm, the Financial Times reported.
Manus’s chief executive Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao were summoned to a meeting with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in Beijing earlier this month, according to people familiar with the matter. Following the meeting, the executives, now based in Singapore, were told they cannot exit China during the ongoing regulatory review, though they are allowed to travel within the country.
Manus is reportedly seeking legal and consulting advice to address the situation.
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A Meta spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters: “The transaction complied fully with applicable law. We anticipate an appropriate resolution to the inquiry.”
Meta announced in December that it acquired Manus, a startup that develops general-purpose AI agents capable of performing research, automation, and other tasks with minimal prompting. While financial terms were not disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported the deal likely exceeded $2 billion.
Founded in China, Manus moved its headquarters and core team to Singapore in July 2025 following a funding round led by U.S. venture capital firm Benchmark. Earlier this year, China’s commerce ministry had said it would assess and investigate the acquisition.