Manus, the Singapore-based AI startup that briefly looked like it would become Meta’s next big bet, is going back to life on its own. The company announced on August 11 that it will resume independent operations after Chinese regulators killed its sale to Mark Zuckerberg’s empire. Manus has roots in China, and Beijing cited concerns over technology transfer in the context of rising US-China tensions in tech industries. What independence looks like nowBefore the halted acquisition, Manus employed about 100 workers, mainly in Singapore. Manus now returns to the market as an independent AI agent company with a very public $2B valuation stamp.