China is trying to stop US tech giant Meta from taking over AI

As geopolitical rivalry with the US over this technology increases, Beijing is tightening its surveillance of the artificial intelligence industry.

China has said it is blocking tech giant Meta from acquiring artificial intelligence (AI) startup Manus, tightening scrutiny on investments in domestic startups developing cutting-edge U.S. technologies.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Monday it was banning foreign acquisition of Manus, without specifically naming Meta.

The move underscores Beijing’s growing concerns about U.S. acquisitions of Chinese AI talent and intellectual property, as Washington seeks to restrict Chinese technology firms’ access to advanced U.S. chips.

It was not immediately clear on what grounds China sought to cancel a deal with a Singapore-based company and how, if at all, any completed…