China blocks Zuck’s acquisition of AI outfit Manus

China has blocked Meta’s acquisition of AI upstart Manus. A brief Monday statement from the Middle Kingdom’s foreign investment regulator says Beijing “made a decision to prohibit foreign investment in the Manus project in accordance with laws and regulations, and has required the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition …

[Inventor of the Marmite Laser]

Send in the clowns

Don't worry. They're here.

[Bebu sa Ware]

A Trumpi·anal Tariff Tsunami …

against anyone he [Trump] reckoned was "discriminating" against Silicon Valley.

Poor little Zucchini not allowed to buy a tinsey winsey Chinese AI Mitten.

The PRC must be trembling in its boots. :)

[Michael Hoffmann]

Slightly confused

If they managed to "escape" to Singapore, then the Chinese govt can go pound sand.

Or did they step in before that was completed? it's not quite clear from article. It only mentions that the ChiGovt started an investigation, but in that time, Manus could have already been high and dry in SG.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Slightly confused

If the people and technology are still Chinese

If Lockheed moved it's HQ to Narnia so it could sell F35s to Russia, I suspect the USA would have an opinion

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Slightly confused

Narnia has more than 4 letters, so they wouldn't be able to find it on a map..

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Running repeats again

Captain Darling: So you see, Blackadder, President Trump is most anxious to eliminate all these German Chinese AIs.

General Melchett: Filthy han weasels, fighting their dirty underhand war!

Captain Darling: And fortunately, one of our AI companies

General Melchett: Splendid fellows, brave heroes risking IP and capital for America!

[Pascal Monett]

"AI upstart Manus"

Just bomb it already.

We have enough AI bullshit going on as it is.

[bill1977]

Boomerbook denied

Anything that keeps boomerbook from spreading like the malignancy it is, is good news.

[PhilipN]

"to evade Chinese regulators .."

Nope. To offshore the profit to a low tax location. Obviously illegal. That is, obvious to everyone except FB's counsel, who should have advised that "this will not fly". Or possibly did, and FB in its usual squeaky-clean, law-abiding ugliness went ahead anyway.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "to evade Chinese regulators .."

I suspect the Singaporean regulators will have a look at this too. If there's even the smallest bad smell about their transfer to Singapore they'll collaborate with China. They're fairly sane, but there's no point upsetting the big neighbour if there's not a very good reason for it.

[elsergiovolador]

Name

Why would you call company Myanus ?

[Roland6]

"Meta has said its use of AI ... has made its products even more addictive"

Full quote: "Meta has said its use of AI has helped to boost its advertising business and has made its products even more addictive/engaging."

Clearly the recent court case (*) didn't register on TPTB in Meta... But at least they are clear the use of AI is for their benefit and not that of its users/content creators.

(*) Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial