Meta cuts Manus off, orders staff to sunset AI platform
▼ Summary
– Meta has established a data firewall between itself and Manus, the Chinese-founded AI service it acquired for $2 billion in December 2025.
– Since June, Manus and its staff have been prohibited from accessing Meta’s internal data systems.
– Meta employees can no longer use Manus tools for internal projects.
Meta has cut off Manus from its internal data infrastructure, ordering employees to begin winding down the Chinese-founded AI platform just months after acquiring it for $2 billion. The move, reported by Bloomberg, signals a sharp reversal in the company’s integration strategy. Since early June, Manus and its staff have been locked out of Meta’s internal data systems, and Meta employees are no longer allowed to use Manus tools for any internal projects.
The decision effectively isolates the agentic AI service from Meta’s core operations, raising questions about the fate of the high-profile acquisition. Manus, which specializes in autonomous AI agents, was seen as a strategic bet for Meta in the competitive AI landscape. However, the new restrictions suggest a rapid and deliberate separation, likely driven by concerns over data security, regulatory pressures, or shifting corporate priorities.
For Meta, the move underscores the challenges of integrating foreign-founded AI startups, especially those with deep ties to China. The company now faces the task of sunsetting the platform while managing the implications for its workforce and technology investments. The abrupt nature of the split highlights how quickly corporate strategies can shift in the volatile AI sector, where partnerships and acquisitions are increasingly scrutinized for geopolitical and operational risks.
(Source: The Next Web)
