Manus AI, a new Artificial Intelligence tool developed by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect, has recently garnered significant attention.
It is being positioned as a more advanced alternative to existing chatbots. Manus is said to be capable of performing tasks beyond just responding to queries. It can analyse the stock market, create personalised travel guides, and even handle practical tasks like booking tickets or sorting through resumes.
Launched just this month, Manus has already generated a lot of buzz. It is currently available only through an invitation, which has helped it build a dedicated following, with over 170,000 members on its official Discord server.
The company’s co-founder, Yichao “Peak” Ji, has described Manus as a major step towards more advanced human-AI collaboration, even hinting that it could be a precursor to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which seeks to replicate human-like thinking.
Manus claims it uses multiple AI models such as Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, fine-tuned versions of Alibaba’s open-source Qwen, and other independently operating agents to perform tasks. This is unlike chatbots like DeepSeek, which are based on a single large language model family.
However, Manus is still in an invite-only beta mode and is focusing on enterprise clients rather than the general public. This limited access has raised some concerns. Critics argue that while the exclusivity generates excitement, it might also slow down its adoption compared to tools like DeepSeek, which built a large community by being open-source.
Caiwei Chen, a reporter at MIT Technology Review, tested the app and found it efficient, though it took longer than other chatbots to provide answers. She stated, “I found that using it feels like collaborating with a highly intelligent and efficient intern: While it occasionally lacks understanding of what it’s being asked to do, makes incorrect assumptions, or cuts corners to expedite tasks, it explains its reasoning clearly, is remarkably adaptable, and can improve substantially when provided with detailed instructions or feedback. Ultimately, it’s promising but not perfect.”
Manus AI Interface
Credit: MIT Technology Review
Manus has also stood out for its approach to sensitive topics. Unlike DeepSeek, which censors content related to politics, Manus has given unfiltered responses. When asked about sensitive events like the Tiananmen Square crackdown or human rights issues in Xinjiang, Manus provided detailed information without any censorship.
Manus is gaining attention for its advanced features and unfiltered approach, but its exclusivity could slow adoption. Whether it becomes a game-changer or just another niche tool will depend on how it evolves and reaches more users.
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