China Is Investigating Metaβs Acquisition of the AI Start-Ip Manus NYT: Technology By:Meaghan Tobin Β· Xinyun Wu and Eli Tan 8 January 2026 at 13:56 Regulators said they would look at whether the deal for Manus, a Singapore start-up with Chinese roots, complied with Chinaβs export and investment rules. Β© Jason Henry for The New York TimesMetaβs deal for Manus last month capped a year of extravagant spending by the American company on elite artificial intelligence researchers.