Chinese startup Butterfly Effect, Manus AI is emerging as a formidable player in advanced AI tools, potentially rivaling DeepSeek’s success.
As described on its website, Manus AI offers various services, from analyzing stock markets to crafting personalized travel itineraries with minimal user input.
Launched just last week, Manus has quickly captured the attention of the tech community. In a widely viewed introductory video, co-founder Yichao “Peak” Ji lauded it as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration,” hinting at its capabilities that edge towards artificial general intelligence (AGI).
AI is getting out of hand 🤯
Manus, an AI agent from China, is automating approximately 50 tasks, creating a rather dystopian scenario
Reports suggest it is more accurate than DeepSeek, capable of simultaneously handling financial transactions, research, purchasing, etc pic.twitter.com/eVTAPH0Pjy
— Barsee 🐶 (@heyBarsee) March 7, 2025Unlike typical chatbots such as DeepSeek or ChatGPT, Manus operates through a unique interface that allows for autonomous task execution—like booking tickets or sorting through resumes—according to Manoj Harjani, a research fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). This positions Manus distinctly in the market, focusing on enterprise-level clients with its invite-only access model.
Although Marina Zhang of the University of Technology Sydney views its exclusivity as a potential barrier to widespread adoption, Manus demonstrates advanced capabilities. During AFP’s testing with an invite code, it completed complex tasks like custom website creation faster and more efficiently than its counterparts.
Manus AI is much crazier than Deepseek moment
I just got invitation code, this thing is the craziest AI agent I've seen.
10 examples:
1. Clone Apple website
It created a copy of Apple website that looks almost the same, with animations and all. (preview link in comment) pic.twitter.com/mcDnkeuuPO
— el.cine (@EHuanglu) March 10, 2025Manus’s approach to sensitive topics is also noteworthy. It provided detailed, uncensored responses to politically sensitive questions, a stark contrast to other AI tools programmed to align with governmental perspectives in China. This capability could indicate a lesser focus on content control, potentially increasing its appeal for users seeking unbiased information.
Whether Manus will replicate DeepSeek’s mainstream success remains uncertain. Its future hinges on scaling capabilities, computing power, and ethical and regulatory challenges. Manus could become a significant force in enterprise automation if these aspects are managed effectively. However, Li Jianggan from Momentum Works noted that while promising, Manus is still in the developmental phase, tackling real-world tasks that present diverse and complex challenges.
