What is AI Agent Manus? How to Use and Key Features

China's tech world is abuzz with the emergence of Manus, a novel AI agent created by the startup Monica. Having been introduced mere weeks following the launch of DeepSeek, Manus is already being compared to top AI models by OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, which shows China's eagerness to lead the global AI competition.

What is Manus?

Manus is a general-purpose AI agent capable of independently executing real-world tasks. Unlike traditional AI chatbots that give answers, Manus acts to finish tasks from beginning to end, with no human assistance. It can think, plan, and act independently. For instance, if asked to create a report on climate change, it will research, write the report, create charts, and organize the results into a finished document, all without further instructions.

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What Makes Manus Different?

Released on March 6, Manus has quickly attracted international attention. Monica asserts that Manus outperforms OpenAI's DeepResearch in the GAIA benchmark, a metric of AI performance. A demo video demonstrates Manus communicating with the internet, collecting information, and performing intricate tasks in real time. Its functions include surfing websites, taking screenshots, recording online behaviour, and creating reports, spreadsheets, or presentations. This degree of automation represents a major leap in AI technology.

Major Capabilities of Manus

Independent Execution: Manus performs independently in the cloud, so it keeps working on tasks even if a user unplugs their device.

Live Web Interaction: Manus persistently surfs the web, engages with websites, and shows its workflow in real-time, allowing transparency to its users about how it collects and processes data.

Adaptive Learning: It adapts based on user interactions to give customized results, changing according to user preferences and enhancing the relevance and quality of responses.

Multi-Platform Access: The AI can access platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and others to gather and process data. It can even handle multiple screens at a time.

Varied Output Formats: Manus does not only produce text-based outputs. It can produce in-depth reports, interactive presentations, and even code-based outputs such as data visualizations and spreadsheets.

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How to Use Manus?

Working with Manus is like working with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT but with more independence. Users type in a task, for example, "Plan a 7-day travel schedule to Bali on a budget," and Manus begins researching, collecting data, and organizing a response. The AI assembles all the information and gives a full itinerary with links, maps, and travel recommendations. Even when a user loses connection, the AI keeps working in the cloud and informs them when the task is done.

Looking Ahead: Availability and Future Plans

Today, Manus can be accessed via a web preview requiring an invitation. Monica has yet to provide a public release window but has intimated that there could be a formal rollout on the horizon soon. The business also intends to open-source the model in a few months, enabling developers to incorporate it into their works. This development has the potential to result in quick enhancements and mass adoption of the technology.

Manus marks a move to AI-based productivity software. Since AI technology improves and becomes independent, competition amongst firms such as OpenAI, Google, and Monica will also increase.

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