Tencent to Acquire Majority Stake in AI Agent Startup Manus

Chinese tech giant Tencent is advancing negotiations to acquire a majority stake in AI agent startup Manus, according to a Financial Times report. The acquisition valuation stands at $2 billion (approximately 300 billion yen), on par with the amount previously offered by Meta.

The emergence of these negotiations is linked to intervention by Chinese authorities. Meta had originally planned a $2 billion acquisition, but was forced to abandon the deal following Beijing's intentions. Concerns about Chinese AI startups falling under the control of U.S. companies appear to have influenced the authorities' decision. With Meta and Manus's negotiations now off the table, domestic company Tencent has stepped into the same position.

Tencent's interest in Manus stems from the overlap with its own AI agent strategy. Tencent is actively implementing AI agent features across multiple services, including its messaging app WeChat, and has determined that Manus's technology and expertise can be directly applied to these efforts. Meanwhile, U.S. venture capital firm Benchmark is not expected to participate in this transaction.

Manus is a startup that develops a system known as an "AI agent" that autonomously executes tasks based on user instructions. An AI agent refers to artificial intelligence capable of independently assessing and executing multiple processes—such as web searches, information organization, and operations—rather than simply answering questions. Demand for such technology is rising globally, and Chinese tech companies are increasingly engaging in development competition.

This series of developments can be positioned as part of a larger geopolitical dynamic concerning Chinese AI assets between the U.S. and China. The fact that China's authorities have clearly blocked acquisition of domestic AI startups by American companies is noteworthy from a technology security perspective. With domestic major firms like Tencent serving as the alternative buyer, the pattern of keeping Chinese AI development assets within the country has been further highlighted.

The key focus going forward is what conditions the Tencent-Manus negotiations will settle on. Additionally, how Tencent integrates Manus's technology into platforms like WeChat is a development that could influence the competitive landscape of AI agent services in China and warrants continued attention.