Yet this partnership between a US tech giant and an originally Chinese startup could be a preview of the border-crossing, talent-focused future of the global AI race. The third implication is that the global AI contest is more fluid and multi-dimensional than a simple “US versus China” frame suggests. DeepSeek’s R1 model forced ‌many investors to confront the reality that a Chinese model could match top US systems at a fraction of the cost. Manus is also a reminder that the global AI race is fundamentally a talent war. The company shows how Chinese-founded businesses and talent can plug into global capital and corporate structures despite elevated geopolitical noise.

Source: The Star January 15, 2026 10:01 UTC