AI startup Manus said Tuesday it had resumed independent operations, months after China blocked Facebook owner Meta from acquiring the Chinese-developed, Singapore-based firm.
The two companies announced in December that Meta had agreed to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence agent, in a deal reportedly worth around $2 billion.
But in April China's top economic planning body said it prohibited the deal, and required "the parties involved to withdraw the acquisition transaction".
"Manus has formally resumed independent operations," the company said in a statement posted to its website.
Some users would be required to back up and restore their data, and would face a "temporary interruption to access", it said.
"Our founding team will continue to lead the company," it added.
Manus announced earlier this month its intention to return to independent operations, saying the move was "part of our separation from Meta".
"We must take this step to comply with regulatory requirements in specific parts of the world," it said at the time.
Analysts warned when the deal was announced that it might fall foul of regulators, at a time of fierce technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
Prior to Beijing's National Development and Reform Commission announcing the ban, the Financial Times reported that China had restricted two Manus co-founders from leaving the country.
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