After DeepSeek, Manus AI comes out of China: What is it and why is it making a buzz?

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, while American companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are busy refining their next-generation models, a new contender from China—Manus AI—is making waves. This innovative AI system, developed by the Chinese startup Monica, is now being hailed as a potential game-changer, with early testers even comparing it to a true general-purpose AI that can autonomously manage multiple tasks without supervision.

What is Manus AI?

Manus AI is designed to be much more than a conventional chatbot. According to its creators at Monica, Manus is built as an AI agent that “bridges minds and actions.” In other words, it doesn’t merely generate responses or suggestions—it actively processes, plans, and executes complex real-world tasks. Whether it’s building a website, planning an elaborate travel itinerary, or performing in-depth stock analysis, Manus takes a single user prompt and transforms it into a fully realized output, handling every step along the way.

The Rapid Rise and Global Buzz

Launched on March 6, Manus AI quickly captured the attention of the tech community. In just a few days, its performance on standardized benchmarks—such as outperforming OpenAI’s DeepResearch on the GAIA benchmark—sparked comparisons with DeepSeek’s R1 model, which had previously stirred excitement worldwide. Users and tech enthusiasts alike are impressed by Manus’ capacity to function as an autonomous, general-purpose AI, one that seems capable of managing a diverse array of tasks without further input.

Key Features That Set Manus AI Apart

1. Autonomous Task Execution:
Manus is engineered to operate independently in the cloud. Once a user submits a prompt, the AI continues working on the task even if the user disconnects. Demonstrations reveal Manus simultaneously engaging with up to 50 different screens and leveraging platforms such as X and Telegram. It can autonomously gather data, take screenshots, record browsing sessions, and even generate necessary files—showcasing a level of operational independence that goes far beyond standard text generation.

2. Real-Time Interaction and Transparency:
In live demonstrations, Manus not only completes tasks but also provides a real-time view of its workflow. For instance, when given a prompt to create a detailed Japan trip itinerary, it was observed actively browsing websites, pulling data, and dynamically constructing a day-by-day plan while displaying every step of its process. This transparent interaction allows users to witness how Manus integrates multiple online resources to compile comprehensive results.

3. Personalized Learning:
Similar to many advanced AI platforms, Manus incorporates mechanisms to learn from user interactions. Over time, this allows it to fine-tune its responses and tailor its outputs to individual user preferences, making each interaction more relevant and efficient.

4. Beyond Simple Text Outputs:
Unlike traditional AI systems that are limited to producing text, Manus is capable of engaging with its environment on multiple levels. It can actively interact with live web pages, generate visual content like screenshots, and even compile documents such as PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations. This multi-modal approach means that Manus can deliver not only information but also fully formatted outputs that cater to a variety of practical needs.

Availability and Future Prospects

At present, Manus AI is accessible exclusively as an invitation-only web preview. While there is no confirmed public release date yet, the significant buzz surrounding its capabilities suggests that an official rollout could be imminent. The development team at Monica has hinted at plans to eventually open source Manus, which would allow developers to harness its powerful agentic features for more specialized applications in various industries.

How to Use Manus AI

Interacting with Manus is designed to be as intuitive as using other well-known AI platforms such as ChatGPT or Grok. Users begin by providing a clear and specific prompt—for example, asking for a seven-day travel itinerary to Bali that fits within a particular budget. Once the request is submitted, Manus immediately embarks on a multi-step process: it conducts thorough research online, gathers relevant data, compiles the information into a structured format, and finally delivers a comprehensive, ready-to-use output—all in real time.

In Summary

Manus AI represents a significant leap in the evolution of autonomous AI agents. Its ability to seamlessly integrate task execution, real-time data interaction, and personalized learning sets it apart from many existing models. As it continues to garner attention and outshine some of the leading AI systems from the West, Manus might very well signal a shift in how AI technology is developed and deployed across industries worldwide.