Meta Platforms saw its stock edge higher on Thursday before dipping slightly in after-hours trading, as two major developments underscored both the challenges and momentum in the company’s artificial intelligence strategy. Reports emerged that Chinese investors in Manus, the AI startup Meta acquired for $2 billion, are preparing to repurchase the firm at the original valuation following regulatory intervention from Beijing. Meanwhile, Meta signed new contracts with data center developer Crusoe for roughly 1.6 gigawatts of AI computing capacity across two U.S. sites.
The Manus deal, first announced in December 2025, was a key part of Meta’s push into general-purpose AI agents. However, China’s Ministry of Commerce launched a formal review earlier this year, and on April 27, 2026, the National Development and Reform Commission reportedly ordered the acquisition blocked or reversed. Now, early Chinese backers are coordinating a buyback, effectively undoing one of Meta’s most notable AI moves and highlighting Beijing’s tightening stance on foreign ownership of foundational AI technologies.
Separately, Meta is aggressively expanding its computing infrastructure, having pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments over three years. The undisclosed Crusoe contracts cover facilities in Childress, Texas, and Warrenton, Missouri, together supplying the equivalent power for roughly 1.2 million homes. The deals, first reported by Bloomberg, come as Big Tech races to lock in AI data center capacity amid surging global demand.
