A Chinese technology team has introduced Manus, the world’s first AI agent, developed by the startup Monica im. The launch coincided with Apple’s new product release, drawing massive interest from users eager to get invitation codes.
According to Monica im, Manus is an autonomous AI agent designed to handle complex tasks without human guidance. Unlike conventional AI assistants like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, which rely on user prompts to give suggestions or answers, Manus goes further — it thinks, plans, and completes tasks independently. This makes it the first AI capable of delivering full task results through its decision-making and execution.
What sets Manus apart is its “less structure, more intelligence” approach. Instead of using a single AI model, it operates like a team leader, managing multiple specialized AI sub-agents to handle different steps of a task. This allows Manus to tackle complex, multi-step workflows seamlessly.
A four-minute demonstration showcased Manus in action, executing tasks autonomously from start to finish. In one example, it screened candidates for a reinforcement learning algorithm engineer position by manually reviewing resumes and extracting key details — all without human input.
The AI agent works asynchronously, meaning it completes tasks in the background and notifies users when the results are ready. For instance, if a user asks Manus to find an apartment, it independently researches properties, considers factors like crime rates and market trends, and delivers tailored recommendations without needing constant supervision.
This level of autonomy pushes AI beyond simple chatbots. While AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT require user prompts, Manus can initiate and complete tasks by itself — a shift towards fully independent AI.
Manus has already made headlines by setting a new state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance benchmark across all three difficulty levels in the GAIA test — a widely recognized standard for evaluating AI assistant capabilities. This achievement highlights Manus’s superior problem-solving abilities, putting it in direct competition with AI giants like OpenAI and Google.
According to Interesting Engineering, the release of Manus follows China’s AI breakthrough last year with DeepSeek. Many experts believe this signals China’s growing strength in AI innovation, challenging the idea that the U.S. is the undisputed leader in advanced AI technology.
According to industry observers, Manus’s development shows that China is not only keeping pace but may have taken a leap ahead by creating AI that works independently, without human intervention.
The project is led by Xiao Hong, a software engineering graduate from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Xiao is known for founding Ye Ying Technology in 2015, launching AI-powered assistant tools, and securing investments from Tencent and ZhenFund.
He later developed Monica, an AI assistant that integrates advanced models like Claude 3.5 and DeepSeek, attracting over a million users globally. Xiao’s latest creation, Manus, represents his most ambitious AI project yet.
Manus also has real-world applications that could reshape industries. One main area is recruitment. The AI agent can autonomously analyze resumes, cross-reference job market trends, and produce detailed hiring reports — streamlining the recruitment process for companies.
In software development, Manus can build professional websites from scratch. It gathers information from social media, deploys the site online, and resolves technical issues — all without human help.
Manus can also plan trips, analyze stocks, and even create complex reports. For example, if asked to create a climate change report, it will research data, write the report, design charts, and compile the final document — delivering a complete product without back-and-forth user interaction.
The arrival of Manus raises important questions about the future of work. While AI tools have traditionally boosted human productivity, fully autonomous AI like Manus could replace human workers altogether.
For instance, in industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, AI agents are becoming more prevalent. OpenAI recently announced its doctor-level AI agents at $20,000 per month, targeting these sectors. The rise of Manus shows China is ready to compete at the highest levels of AI development.
This also sparks ethical concerns too. If AI agents operate independently, who is responsible for their mistakes? What happens when an AI like Manus makes a costly error without human supervision? These are pressing questions regulators worldwide must address as AI moves toward full autonomy.
Currently, Manus is available through an invitation-only web preview. While Monica has not announced a public release date, the company plans to open-source parts of the AI model, especially the inference component, later this year. This could accelerate AI innovation, allowing developers to integrate Manus into their projects.
