Key points
- Manus is developed by the Chinese startup Monica
- It was launched on March 6
- It outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch on the GAIA benchmark: Manus creators
ISLAMABAD: Weeks after the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek created a buzz with its DeepSeek-R1 model, a new Chinese AI agent named Manus has quickly captured the AI community’s attention with its ability to tackle complex, real-world tasks.
Similar to DeepSeek, Manus has been making waves globally, with some publications already dubbing it “yet another DeepSeek moment” for China, according to the Economic Times.
Developed by the Chinese startup Monica, Manus is presented as an AI platform that “bridges minds and actions,” meaning it does not just think but also delivers tangible results. Its rapid popularity is largely due to its capability to handle intricate, real-world challenges.
Drawing global attention
Launched on March 6, Manus gained significant global attention within days, drawing comparisons to the excitement surrounding DeepSeek’s R1 model from just a few weeks prior. According to its creators, Manus even outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch on the GAIA benchmark.
The company shared a demo video on X on Wednesday night, and by Thursday afternoon, it had already accumulated over 200,000 views. Many users expressed interest in receiving invitation codes to try out the AI agent.
Just weeks earlier, DeepSeek R1, developed at a fraction of the cost of OpenAI, Meta, and Google’s leading models, had similarly generated widespread buzz.
Manus is an advanced AI agent designed to think, plan, and execute tasks independently. It can handle a variety of complex tasks with a single prompt, such as creating a detailed itinerary for a trip to Japan, analysing stocks, designing interactive coursework for teachers, or comparing insurance policies, according to Reuters.
Offering different services
Unlike traditional AI chatbots, which merely provide answers, Manus acts to complete tasks. For example, if asked to write a report on climate change, it will autonomously research, draft, generate charts, and compile a comprehensive final document without requiring further instructions.
Developed by a low-profile team and backed by Chinese investors and developers, Manus is currently accessible through an invitation-only web preview. A demo video on its website, manus.im showcases its ability to create a custom website step-by-step.
Touted as the world’s first truly general AI agent, Manus is said to outperform OpenAI’s DeepResearch based on the GAIA benchmark, a third-party standard for assessing general AI assistants.
Autonomous tasks performance
Manus AI is designed to autonomously perform complex tasks across various industries. Key features include its ability to operate independently and asynchronously through cloud-based functionality, allowing users to assign tasks while disconnecting from their devices.
China has been a leader in AI breakthroughs in 2025, and despite limited information about Manus’s corporate structure, team, and underlying models, the AI agent has generated immense interest.
Since Manus hit the internet, users have been sharing remarkable clips of its demos.
Manus capabilities
One such demonstration shows the AI agent managing 50 different screens at once, using various platforms like X and Telegram simultaneously, showcasing its unparalleled level of automation.
Getting started with Manus is simple, just like another AI chatbot, you can begin by providing a prompt. For example, if you request a 7-day travel itinerary to Bali within a specific budget, Manus will research real-time data and compile a detailed plan.
Additionally, Manus can generate files, browse the web, interact with web pages, capture screenshots, and record browsing activities for future reference.
