Tencent seeks largest stake in Manus AI after Meta unwind

Chinese technology giant Tencent is in negotiations to become the largest shareholder of artificial intelligence startup Manus, following a directive from Beijing that forced Meta to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of the company. The move effectively repatriates ownership of a prized AI asset to a consortium of its original Chinese investors.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Tencent is leading a group that includes Manus's early backers, ZhenFund and HSG, to repurchase the startup from Meta. The planned buyback would value Manus at no less than $2 billion, matching the price Meta paid when it acquired the Singapore-incorporated company in December 2025. While Tencent is expected to take the largest single stake, it would remain a minority shareholder, a structure designed to avoid the concentration of control that triggered regulatory concerns.

The deal's reversal began in April 2026 when Chinese regulators launched a review of Meta's acquisition, citing national security concerns over foreign ownership of an AI company with Chinese origins. Authorities focused on the fact that Manus was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs and initially funded with Chinese capital,...