Chinese AI firms race to match US models as regulators force tech buyback
ByteDance and DeepSeek are accelerating efforts to build AI systems that can rival top U.S. models, while investors have reclaimed Manus AI from Meta after Chinese regulators ordered the deal undone, amid market volatility and a domestic AI price war.
ByteDance is said to be developing an AI model aimed at competing with Anthropic’s Mythos, and DeepSeek claims to be building a challenger to Anthropic’s Claude Code. Meanwhile, former investors have bought Manus AI back from Meta following a Chinese regulator’s order to unwind the purchase. The sector also grapples with erratic high-value tech stock performance and intense price competition that could squeeze profits.
Why it matters
The moves highlight China’s drive to close the AI gap with the U.S. and the regulatory pressures shaping its tech industry.
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