A globally recognizable tech executive, high-spirited from preparing for a public offering, offers imprudent remarks criticizing the government. The state strikes back harder than anyone expects. Overnight, the bargain between a skyrocketing sector of the economy and the government is shattered. If you think this story could be about Anthropic, you’re only half right. In 2020, the Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma found himself in the doghouse after he publicly rebuked Chinese regulators. Citing regulatory concerns, the authorities canceled the public offering of Ant Group, another company Mr. Ma helped found,…
Tag: Manus (Artificial Intelligence Co)
Meta Deal Reversal Deepens Split Between China and Silicon Valley
Manus, an artificial intelligence start-up, began with an idea among three engineers in Wuhan, China, united by an obsession with A.I. and a shared ambition to build a global venture. From the outset, they looked beyond China. Their big break came in March last year. Manus had drawn the attention of Silicon Valley investors with an A.I. agent capable of carrying out tasks on its own. By year’s end, Meta had agreed to acquire Manus. It looked like a clean breakout from China’s crowded, tightly regulated market and a path…