Chen Tianqiao Shifts MiroMind AI Research to US, Singapore After $2 Billion Meta-Manus Probe
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Chen Tianqiao Shifts MiroMind AI Research to US, Singapore After $2 Billion Meta-Manus Probe
1 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Oct 5
Summary
MiroMind shut its Beijing and Shanghai operations on Jan. 16 and cut China-based researchers off from overseas code and data, after Beijing’s scrutiny of Meta’s aborted more-than-$2 billion Manus deal rattled its cross-border model.
That review raised the risk that AI technology developed by Chinese-founded teams could still fall under China’s export controls even after relocation, pushing Chen to rebuild research operations in the US and Singapore.
The split also triggered a dispute with Tsinghua professor Dai Jifeng, who stayed in China and started his own AI company; Chen said he will no longer hire large-language-model researchers in China.
Chen has since pivoted recruiting to the US, though even a $100 million annual cash-and-stock offer failed to land one candidate, underscoring MiroMind’s uphill battle against established AI rivals.
Backed by about $2 billion of Chen’s own capital—with another $2 billion available—his focus has shifted to Apodex, an AI agent he wants to reach $1 billion in contracted revenue by next June.