Chinese AI Startup Manus Relocates Headquarters Singapore Amid US Chip Export Curbs

Chinese AI start-up Manus AI has relocated its global headquarters from China to Singapore amid challenges in securing advanced Nvidia chips due to US export controls. The move, confirmed by co-founder Zhang Tao, reflects a strategic shift to facilitate better access to US clients, funding, and chip supplies while reducing operations and workforce in China. Manus AI, known for its general-purpose AI agent capable of complex tasks, has also been under scrutiny by the US Treasury Department, which is reviewing a $75 million financing round led by a California venture capital firm for national security risks. The company is simultaneously expanding hiring in Singapore, California, and Tokyo, signaling its global ambitions despite the geopolitical pressures. Manus AI's relocation and restructuring highlight broader trends of Chinese tech firms adapting to increasing US scrutiny and export restrictions in the competitive AI sector. This development underscores the intensifying AI race and the geopolitical complexities influencing technology companies’ operations and investments.