China’s AI scene has a new player—Manus AI, an advanced AI assistant that is being hailed as a potential game-changer in human-machine collaboration. Developed by Butterfly Effect, this AI agent goes beyond traditional chatbots like DeepSeek and ChatGPT, performing complex tasks such as stock market analysis, booking tickets, and even building custom websites.
Here’s everything you need to know about Manus:
1. A Rapid Rise in Popularity
- Manus launched last week and has already gained 170,000 members on its official Discord server.
- Co-founder Yichao “Peak” Ji introduced it as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration” and a step toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
- Its name, derived from the Latin phrase “Mens et Manus” (meaning Mind and Hand), reflects its focus on both knowledge and practical application.
2. More Than Just a Chatbot
Unlike traditional AI chatbots that rely on conversational responses, Manus is designed to:
- Perform tasks autonomously (e.g., booking flights, filtering resumes).
- Execute complex real-world actions, making it more advanced than DeepSeek or ChatGPT.
- Assist enterprise clients rather than targeting general users.
3. Exclusive & Invitation-Only Access
- Currently, only invited users can access Manus.
- This creates buzz but may slow adoption, unlike DeepSeek, which gained widespread popularity through open-source accessibility.
4. Handling of Sensitive Topics
- Unlike DeepSeek, which follows government censorship policies, Manus provides uncensored responses to politically sensitive topics.
- It openly discusses events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and human rights issues in Xinjiang.
- However, experts suggest this could be due to its task-focused design, meaning censorship controls may not have been fully implemented yet.
5. Can Manus Replicate DeepSeek’s Success?
- Manus excels in real-world task execution, but its ability to scale remains uncertain.
- Challenges include:
– Computing power demands
– Technical stability
– Ethical & regulatory considerations
Experts believe Manus could become a major player in enterprise automation, but its success is still a big question mark.
Final Thoughts
While Manus isn’t a direct competitor to DeepSeek, its ability to autonomously handle real-world tasks makes it an intriguing development in AI. However, its closed beta model, potential technical hurdles, and regulatory scrutiny may determine whether it becomes the next big thing—or just another AI experiment.
Source: AFP
