A new AI agent from China called Manus has exploded onto the tech scene, generating more buzz than the latest smartphone release. With invitation codes reportedly selling for thousands of dollars and a Discord server that grew to over 138,000 members in days, many are calling it a revolution in AI capabilities.
But behind the viral sensation and bold claims of autonomous task completion, questions remain about what Manus can actually deliver.
Is this truly the "next paradigm of human-machine collaboration" as its creators suggest, or another case of AI hype outpacing reality?
In this article, we'll examine what Manus promises to do, how it actually works, its real-world performance, and what this means for the global AI landscape. We are also going to explore if this is China's next "DeepSeek moment" in AI innovation.
Let's get into it.
What Is Manus AI and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Manus AI is a new "general AI agent" from China that has taken the tech world by storm in recent weeks. Developed by a Chinese startup called Butterfly Effect, Manus claims to be more than just a chatbot - it describes itself as an AI that "bridges minds and actions" and "doesn't just think, it delivers results."
The platform has generated incredible buzz within the AI community, with some experts calling it "the most impressive AI tool" they've ever tried. This excitement has led to:
Over 138,000 members joining the official Manus Discord server in just a few days
Invitation codes reportedly selling for thousands of dollars on Chinese reseller apps
Industry leaders comparing it to a "glimpse into AGI" (Artificial General Intelligence)
Claims that it can complete weeks of professional work in just hours
Manus operates through a multi-agent system that breaks complex tasks into smaller components handled by specialized sub-agents. The platform promises to handle everything from creating research reports to analyzing stocks, planning trips, and even programming games.
Also, the co-founder of Manus AI stated that later this year they are going to open-source some of the models that are used to pre-train Manus AI.
Currently, Manus remains difficult to access due to limited server capacity, which has created a scramble for invitation codes and further fueled the hype around this new AI tool.
Manus AI's Bold Claims: What It Promises to Do
Manus AI positions itself as an "agentic" AI platform, meaning it can supposedly act independently to complete complex tasks from start to finish with minimal human guidance. Unlike standard chatbots that simply generate text, Manus claims to analyze situations, plan solutions, and execute them autonomously.
According to its website and promotional materials, Manus can handle an impressive range of tasks:
Creating personalized travel itineraries and handbooks for destinations like Japan
Performing in-depth stock analysis with visual dashboards (as showcased with Tesla)
Developing educational content like interactive courses on scientific concepts
Comparing insurance policies and providing tailored recommendations
Researching and identifying suitable B2B suppliers across extensive networks
Analyzing online store sales data and suggesting strategies to boost performance
The company behind Manus, Butterfly Effect, boldly claims their platform outperforms competitors like OpenAI's deep research and Operator on the GAIA benchmark, which tests an AI's ability to carry out work by browsing the web and using software.
Manus co-founder Yichao "Peak" Ji has described the platform as "the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration" and potentially a glimpse into AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), suggesting it represents a significant leap beyond current AI capabilities.
Under the Hood: How Manus Actually Works
Despite the buzz surrounding Manus AI, the platform wasn't built entirely from scratch. Reports indicate that Manus uses a combination of existing AI models, including Anthropic's Claude and Alibaba's Qwen, which it has fine-tuned for its specific purposes rather than developing proprietary foundation models.
The real innovation behind Manus appears to be its multi-agent architecture:
It breaks complex tasks into smaller, manageable components
Different specialized sub-agents handle specific aspects of each task
These sub-agents coordinate with each other to complete the overall objective
The system orchestrates this collaboration without requiring user intervention
This approach differentiates Manus from standard AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude, which typically handle tasks through a single conversation flow. By comparison:
Traditional AI assistants: Respond directly to prompts in a conversational manner
Agentic systems like AutoGPT: Plan and execute tasks but often require monitoring
Manus: Claims to autonomously plan and complete complex multi-step tasks with minimal guidance
Industry experts suggest that Manus's capabilities may stem more from innovative alignment and fine-tuning rather than breakthroughs in core model technology.
As Clement Delangue, co-founder of Hugging Face, noted, Manus's agentic abilities might represent "more of an alignment problem rather than a foundational capability issue."
Real-World Testing: Does Manus Deliver?
The hype around Manus AI has prompted many early testers to put the platform through its paces, with mixed results that suggest a gap between its ambitious promises and current capabilities.
Some impressive endorsements have come from notable tech figures:
Andrew Wilkinson claimed, "I feel like I just time traveled six months into the future"
Venture capitalist Deedy Das reported Manus completed "two weeks of professional-level work in about one hour" analyzing Tesla stock
Victor Mustar, Head of Product at Hugging Face, called it "the most impressive AI tool I've ever tried"
However, hands-on testing reveals significant limitations:
Users report frequent crashes during complex tasks like ordering food or booking flights
Several testers encountered error messages and endless processing loops
The platform makes factual errors and doesn't consistently cite sources
Simple requests like restaurant reservations often fail to complete
A TechCrunch reporter found Manus struggled with straightforward tasks like ordering a chicken sandwich, booking travel, and making restaurant reservations. When asked to build a game, the system errored out midway through the process.
The reality appears to be that while Manus shows promise in certain analytical tasks, it falls short of its marketing claims of being a fully autonomous agent capable of handling real-world tasks reliably.
The China Connection: A Second "DeepSeek Moment"?
Manus AI's rapid rise is being widely compared to the recent "DeepSeek moment" in the AI world, referring to another Chinese AI company that made waves globally with its advanced capabilities in early 2025. This has sparked discussions about China's growing influence in the AI race.
China has made artificial intelligence development a national priority, investing heavily in research and infrastructure. The emergence of DeepSeek and now Manus within a short period suggests these efforts are bearing fruit.
Industry observers are calling Manus "China's second DeepSeek moment," highlighting how:
Chinese AI companies are increasingly producing globally competitive products
The pace of innovation from China is accelerating
The traditional US dominance in AI technology is being challenged
This shift has significant implications for the global AI landscape, potentially signaling a more balanced distribution of AI innovation power. Western labs may feel increased pressure to accelerate their own development of agentic AI systems to avoid falling behind.
How to Access Manus (If You Can)
Currently, Manus AI operates on an invitation-only basis, with the company citing genuinely limited server capacity as the reason. This restricted access has created a scramble for invitation codes, which are in extremely short supply.
According to Zhang Tao, Manus AI's product partner, the current version is "still in its infancy," suggesting a broader release may be some time away. The company hasn't provided a specific timeline for public availability.
You can join their Discord server and engage there, and if you get lucky, you might receive an invite code or you can join the waitlist..
For those waiting for access, alternatives include:
Joining the official Manus Discord server for potential invitation opportunities
Exploring other agentic AI tools like OpenAI's deep research features
Using specialized AI assistants that focus on specific tasks Manus claims to handle
Conclusion
Manus AI represents an intriguing development in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. If it can overcome its current limitations and deliver on its ambitious promises, it could transform how we interact with AI, making autonomous agents a practical reality for everyday tasks.
For everyday users in the coming months:
Access will likely remain limited as the company works to scale its infrastructure
Capabilities may improve gradually as the platform matures
Initial use cases will probably focus on analytical tasks where Manus shows strength
The co-founder's promise to open-source some models later this year could drive wider adoption
Western AI companies are unlikely to sit idle in response to this challenge.
We can expect:
Accelerated development of agentic capabilities from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic
More emphasis on reliability and task completion in AI assistants
Potential regulatory attention as AI agents gain more autonomy
The true test for Manus will be bridging the current gap between its impressive vision and the reality of consistent, reliable performance.
FAQs
1. What is Manus AI and how does it differ from ChatGPT?
Manus AI is an "agentic" AI platform from China that claims to autonomously complete complex tasks from start to finish. Unlike ChatGPT, which responds conversationally, Manus uses a multi-agent architecture to break down tasks into components and execute them without continuous user guidance.
2. Is Manus AI available to the public?
No, Manus AI is currently invitation-only with extremely limited access. The company cites server capacity limitations and acknowledges the platform is "in its infancy." Invitation codes are scarce and reportedly selling for thousands of dollars on reseller platforms.
3. What tasks can Manus AI perform?
Manus AI claims to handle diverse tasks including creating travel itineraries, analyzing stocks, developing educational content, comparing insurance policies, researching suppliers, and analyzing online store performance. Real-world testing shows it performs better on analytical tasks than practical ones.
4. Who created Manus AI and what technology does it use?
Manus AI was developed by Butterfly Effect, a Chinese startup. Rather than building models from scratch, it combines and fine-tunes existing AI models like Anthropic's Claude and Alibaba's Qwen, focusing innovation on its multi-agent architecture system.
5. Does Manus AI represent China overtaking the US in artificial intelligence?
While Manus represents significant progress in Chinese AI, calling it a definitive shift in AI power dynamics is premature. However, along with DeepSeek, it signals China is becoming a serious contender in advanced AI development, potentially challenging traditional US dominance.
