Tencent in Talks to Become Top Investor in AI Startup Manus

Chinese internet group Tencent is in talks to become the largest shareholder in artificial-intelligence startup Manus, two people with knowledge of the matter said Friday. The discussions follow a Beijing order that Meta unwind its $2 billion purchase of the company, one of the most direct interventions in a foreign tech acquisition.

Tencent, together with Manus' original investors ZhenFund and HSG, plans to buy Manus back from Meta for no less than $2 billion, one of the sources and a third person said. The Financial Times first reported the talks earlier in the day.

The buyback price matches what Meta paid roughly a year ago. A deal would return the startup to Chinese control after a brief period of foreign ownership.

Tencent has been stepping up its AI investments, including its own Hunyuan large-language model and a stake in Baidu's Ernie bot. Buying Manus would give it a team and technology focused on automating business workflows. The company's TCEHY stock page shows an Alpha Score of 58 out of 100, a Moderate rating.

The forced sale shows the regulatory barriers US companies face in China's AI sector. Beijing has tightened rules on foreign ownership in areas it considers strategically important, and the Meta order fits that pattern.

Meta declined to comment. Tencent, Manus, ZhenFund and HSG did not respond to requests for comment.