Manus, a Chinese manufacturer of AI agent products, has undergone significant changes in a short span of four months. The company has swiftly relocated its headquarters from Beijing to Singapore and undergone large-scale layoffs in its domestic operations, retaining only a core team of technical personnel. With a recent funding round of USD 75 million, valuing the company at up to USD 500 million, Manus is poised for new beginnings. Amidst the tensions surrounding AI investment between China and the United States, and the ban on NVIDIA chips, the decision to relocate was made in search of a more conducive development environment. Looking ahead, Manus aims to expand into the United States, Japan, and the Middle East, and has already initiated high-salary recruitment drives in Singapore to attract top AI talent.

Previously, Manus's agent products garnered considerable attention when invitation codes fetched as much as RMB 100,000 at auction. As competition in AI intensifies between China and the United States, many Chinese AI companies are similarly exploring overseas markets or relocating abroad in search of growth opportunities.