A groundbreaking AI tool named Manus is generating significant interest in China, raising expectations that it may achieve a level of success similar to that of DeepSeek, which earlier this year disrupted the global technology landscape with its cutting-edge chatbot capabilities. According to its website, Manus, regarded as a more sophisticated AI agent than traditional chatbots, is capable of performing a wide range of tasks, from stock market analysis to crafting personalized travel guides based on simple user instructions. Released last week by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect, Manus has quickly captured attention. In a widely shared introductory video, co-founder Yichao “Peak” Ji described Manus as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into AGI,” referring to artificial general intelligence that aspires to emulate human thought processes.
Currently available only through an invitation system, Manus has rapidly gained popularity, with its official Discord server amassing over 170,000 members. Manoj Harjani, a research fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), noted that Manus functions as “a system that can carry out tasks autonomously on behalf of users,” distinguishing it from DeepSeek and ChatGPT, which respond to user prompts via a chat interface. Unlike DeepSeek, which was developed discreetly before gaining attention, Manus is adopting a different strategy by restricting access to an invite-only beta and focusing on enterprise-level clients, according to one analyst.The potential for Manus to attain mainstream success comparable to that of DeepSeek hinges on its capacity to scale in response to demand. However, it is improbable that Manus will emerge as the next DeepSeek, given the distinct nature of their respective AI applications. The growth of Manus will depend on sufficient computing resources and the proficient management of various challenges, including technical stability and ethical or regulatory concerns. Should Manus effectively navigate these obstacles, it could certainly position itself as a significant contender in the enterprise automation sector.
