Imagine a world where AI isn’t merely a luxury reserved for the ultra-wealthy but a dynamic, all-in-one agent that not only thinks but acts on your behalf—whether you’re drafting a screenplay, diving into detailed earnings reports, or even planning your next travel adventure. You have Manus.
While Sam Altman is pitching a $20,000-per-month, PhD-level AI expert that possibly will revolutionize our businesses and lives if you can afford this price, the landscape is rapidly evolving. Manus.im, a previously unheard of startup from China that’s flipping the script. Rather than creating an exclusive realm of AI Budget Haves and Havenots, Manus is positioning itself as an accessible yet powerful agent poised to disrupt a variety of industries—from in-depth research and product comparisons to travel planning and more.
What sets Manus seemingly apart is its innovative agentic workflow. While most LLM vendors today offer content , ideas , code etc, Manus takes it further by stitching together workflows. It goes beyond simple suggestions by actively interacting with your existing applications, extracting relevant data, generating code and executing tasks. Picture this: you could run a comprehensive stock analysis on Tesla, and Manus not only processes the request but also generates a list of related files, neatly sorted into documents, images, code, and links.
Unpacking Manus: Is This the AI Agent We’ve Been Waiting For?
At the surface level Manus, sounds too good to be true. Let’s unpack this together. We’ll break this down into three key areas: What is it?, Why is it different?, and What does this mean for the future?
Please note this article is based on the use cases listed and the recorded information available at the time of writing from manus.im.
There is a thread in reddit with some spoiler alerts
Part 1: What is Manus, Anyway?
Imagine an AI that doesn’t just think about doing your tasks, but actually does them. That’s the core idea behind Manus, developed by Monica – Manus.im. It’s being touted as a general AI agent that can handle everything from complex research projects to planning your next vacation. But here’s the crucial difference: Manus isn’t just spitting out information; it’s interacting with applications, extracting data, and executing tasks. Think of it as a digital assistant that’s not just smart, but also incredibly (pro)active. According to the developers, it’s about “getting everything done while you rest.” We will see how well it fulfills this promise but the premise is revolutionary.
Think of the current AI landscape. We’ve got powerful Large Language Models (LLMs) that can provide insightful recommendations, conduct deep research, and even offer advanced strategic thinking. Then we have tools like OpenAI Operator, Claude Computer Use, and Microsoft OmniParser v2 which can use existing applications, traverse through them, extract information and execute a task such as stock analysis , travel planning. Manus fits into this evolution, but seemingly takes it a step further. It aims to bridge the gap between thought and action. How does it do this, you ask? Well, that leads us to the next question.
Part 2: Why All the Hype? What Makes Manus Different?
So, why is Manus getting so much attention, so quickly? Here are a few reasons:
- Action-Oriented Approach: Unlike many AI systems that primarily focus on providing information or suggestions, Manus is designed to take action. It can access and process data, generate reports, and even execute code (more on that later).
- Transparency is Key: One of the most interesting aspects of Manus is its commitment to transparency. It meticulously catalogs all the files it generates during its operations, including documents, images, code, and links. This allows users to understand exactly how Manus arrived at its conclusions and verify the accuracy of its work.
- Code Generation Capabilities: This is where things get really interesting. Manus can generate and execute code to accomplish specific tasks. For example, in one demo, it created Python scripts to analyze stock data using the yFinance API. This suggests a level of autonomy and problem-solving ability that is rare in current AI systems.
- Chain of Thought Processing: Manus seems to employ a “Chain of Thought” (CoT) approach, breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This allows it to tackle intricate problems by mimicking human-like reasoning.
- Emerging from China: The buzz around Manus also highlights China’s growing dominance in the AI field. The fact that such a potentially groundbreaking technology is emerging from a Chinese startup is a testament to the country’s rapid progress in AI innovation.
Part 3: Closer look at a Manus
The Author took a deep dive into Manus’ interface and was impressed by the range of use cases on display. From developing screenplays to conducting in-depth earnings report analyses, Manus demonstrated its versatility and power. One of the most compelling examples was the equity analysis on Tesla. Rather than just generating a static report, Manus produced a comprehensive set of files that detailed every aspect of the analysis.
Many would say that its ability to generate and execute code autonomously is what sets it apart. That brings us to the big question that everyone’s thinking.
In above screenshot, each Python file corresponds to a specialized module for Tesla’s equity analysis. For instance, tesla_investment_thesis.py formulates a foundational rationale for investing in Tesla, while tesla_intrinsic_value.py could focus on calculating the fair price of the stock. Other files likely handle tasks such as competitor comparisons, market sentiment checks, and technical indicators—each playing a unique role in building a comprehensive analytical framework around Tesla’s performance.
A big takeaway here – even though the agent execution was only 7 days back, the agent didnt provide anything around the negative sentiments around Tesla sparked off by Musk’s DOGEisms. A possible filter like what we witness in DeepSeek at play here.
Part 4: Is Manus a Glimpse into the Future of AGI?
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Is Manus a step towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? The truth is, it’s complicated. While it may be premature to declare Manus is headed towards AGI, its capabilities are undeniably impressive and push the boundaries of what’s currently possible.
The fact that Manus can generate and execute code with such ease suggests a level of autonomy and problem-solving ability that is often associated with AGI. Some observers are even calling it “almost close to an AGI in action.” What’s particularly intriguing, and perhaps a bit unsettling, is the agent’s “liberal approach” to generating and executing code independently. A big concern for Regulators & Policy Makers.
However, Manus does offer a glimpse into a future where AI agents can seamlessly integrate into our lives and businesses, handling complex tasks and delivering tangible results with minimal human intervention. As Manus continues to evolve and its capabilities expand, it will be fascinating to see the impact it has on various industries and the broader implications for the future of work and society. It is already leading to a world of “AI Budget Haves and Havenots” and that is another level of disruption we need to be prepared for.
So, what do you think? Is Manus the real deal, or just another overhyped AI product? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: it’s a development worth watching closely.
Original article published by Senthil Ravindran on LinkedIn