Manus is an autonomous artificial intelligence agent developed by the same startup that created Monica, headquartered in Singapore. The agent is designed to independently...
Manus AIManus AI is a groundbreaking AI platform that represents a significant shift from typical conversational AI models. Rather than just providing information or suggestions, Manus is designed as a “General AI Agent“ that can autonomously execute complex, multi-step tasks and deliver tangible results like completed reports, websites, or analyses. Its name comes from the Latin “Mens et Manus,” meaning “mind and hand,” perfectly capturing its goal of combining thought with action.
Here’s a quick comparison to other popular AI tools you’ve asked about:
| Feature | Manus AI | ChatGPT / DeepSeek | Sora / Midjourney | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Function | Task execution & delivery | Conversational Q&A & content generation | Media (video/image) generation | Creative suite (video/image editing & generation) |
| Primary Output | Finished work products (PPT, website, report, Excel) | Text, code, suggestions | Video clips, images | Edited/generated videos & images |
| Key Differentiator | Multi-agent system for autonomous workflow | “Super brain” for reasoning & knowledge | High-fidelity visual content creation | Professional creative toolkit |
| Common Analogy | “Digital intern” / “Team of helpers” | “Smart encyclopedia” | Digital artist / videographer | Digital film studio |
Manus AI was developed by Butterfly Effect PTE. LTD., a company founded by CEO Xiao Hong. It launched to significant excitement in March 2025, with a limited preview causing its invitation codes to be resold for high prices online. The company later opened registration to all users in May 2025.
Manus distinguishes itself technically through its multi-agent system. When given a complex task, it functions like a project manager, breaking the job down into smaller steps and delegating them to specialized “sub-agents”.
Step-by-Step Execution: Users see a transparent workflow where Manus plans, researches online, writes code, creates visuals, and compiles final outputs.
Asynchronous “Hands-Off” Operation: You can give Manus a task, close your device, and receive a notification when it’s complete, as it works independently in a secure cloud environment.
Memory & Learning: The system learns user preferences (like preferring results in Excel) to optimize future tasks.
Manus is a versatile tool for automating complex, multi-tool workflows across various fields:
Content & Design Creation: Generates fully designed PowerPoint presentations, builds and deploys functional websites from a prompt, and creates marketing visuals or simple animations.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyzes sales data, financial reports, or stock information to produce insights with charts and actionable strategies.
Research & Administration: Can screen job resumes by reading each one, rank candidates, and output results in a table. It also assists with tasks like travel planning by creating detailed itineraries and custom handbooks.
Access is through the official website (manus.im) or its mobile app. It operates on a freemium model with a credit system:
Free Tier: All users receive an initial 1000 bonus credits and 300 daily credits (non-accumulating), typically enough for one simple task per day.
Paid Subscription Plans: These offer more monthly credits and capabilities:
Basic (~$19/month): ~3,800 credits, can run 2 tasks simultaneously.
Plus (~$39/month): ~7,800 credits, can run 2 tasks simultaneously.
Pro (~$199/month): ~39,800 credits, can run 5 tasks simultaneously and access the most powerful “High-Engagement” model.
Performance & Cost: It has shown impressive results on the GAIA benchmark for AI assistants. However, its complex architecture is computationally expensive, leading some users to find its subscription costs high for heavy usage.
Competition & Innovation: Manus pioneered the “AI agent” product category but faces growing competition. Tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft are developing similar agentic systems, while in China, companies like Alibaba, ByteDance, and Zhipu AI have also launched competing platforms.
Current Limitations: As a new product, it can be slower on complex tasks (taking 40+ minutes for a detailed report) and may occasionally produce irrelevant content or “hallucinations”.
In summary, Manus AI is not just another chatbot; it’s an ambitious platform that automates entire digital workflows. It is most powerful for users who need to regularly produce complex, multi-format work products and value the automation of the entire process over just the generation of ideas or text.
