The landscape of artificial intelligence has taken a significant leap forward with the release of Manus AI, the world’s first general-purpose autonomous AI agent. Developed by the Chinese AI startup Monica, Manus AI was officially launched on 5th March 2025. The name ‘Manus’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘hand’, signifying its role in transforming user intent into concrete actions. Unlike conventional AI models that rely on user prompts, Manus AI is designed for full autonomy, capable of independently executing complex tasks from start to finish.
Core Features and Advantages
Full-Chain Autonomous Execution
Manus AI is designed to operate without continuous human input. It can process, analyse, and act upon instructions autonomously, streamlining tasks that typically require manual intervention. For example, in human resources, it can unpack and analyse CVs, rank candidates, and generate evaluation tables, all while learning from user preferences to enhance future performance.
Deep Toolchain Integration
A standout feature of Manus AI is its ability to integrate seamlessly with third-party tools. Whether it’s controlling web browsers, Photoshop plugins, or data analysis applications, Manus AI extends its capabilities beyond simple automation, making it a powerful tool across various industries.
Continuous Learning and Memory Optimisation
Manus AI employs an adaptive learning approach, refining its task execution strategies based on past interactions. This results in greater efficiency and higher accuracy, as it optimises workflows according to user-specific behaviours and needs.
Cloud-Based Asynchronous Processing
Tasks executed by Manus AI continue even when users are offline. The AI runs computations in the cloud and notifies users once the results are ready. This feature is particularly useful for time-intensive operations, such as market data analysis.
Applications Examples:
Property Selection
For prospective homeowners, Manus AI delivers tailored property recommendations by analysing factors such as neighbourhood safety, school quality, and budget constraints. This enables users to make informed decisions without the need for extensive manual research.
Stock Market Analysis
Manus AI supports investment research by evaluating the correlation between multiple stocks, writing custom scripts for data analysis, and generating visual reports to enhance decision-making.
Technical Architecture and Design Philosophy
Multi-Agent Collaborative Framework
Manus AI follows a ‘planning-execution-verification’ approach, where different AI agents collaborate to plan, execute, and validate tasks. This structured methodology ensures greater efficiency and accuracy.
‘Less Structure, More Intelligence’ Philosophy
Rather than relying on predefined rules, Manus AI focuses on the natural emergence of intelligence through high-quality data, flexible architecture, and powerful AI models. This allows it to adapt dynamically to new challenges.
Performance Validation
In GAIA benchmark testing, Manus AI outperformed OpenAI’s DeepResearch across all difficulty levels, particularly excelling in tool utilisation tasks. This demonstrates its superior ability to interact with external applications and automate workflows.
The Personal Perspective: AI as a Complete System
If large language models (LLMs) serve as the skeleton of AI, then AI agents like Manus AI act as the nervous system and bloodstream—facilitating interactions, decisions, and learning. However, the true productivity of AI is realised only when paired with an effective user interface, which represents the flesh and skin. It is this combination—LLMs, autonomous AI agents, and an intuitive presentation—that enables AI to function as a fully productive tool.
The year 2024 marked the dawn of the AI agent era. Tools such as Make, Zapier, and n8n, which were once considered cutting-edge for workflow automation, now face the challenge of adapting to rapidly evolving AI technologies. The emergence of fully autonomous AI agents like Manus AI signals the need for these platforms to reinvent themselves or risk obsolescence.
Market Response and Future Prospects
Surging Demand
Following its launch, Manus AI generated significant market interest, with invitation codes being resold at premium prices on secondary markets. The demand highlights the growing appetite for advanced AI automation.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite its promise, Manus AI faces several challenges:
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Technical scrutiny: Some experts argue that its capabilities rely on engineering optimisation rather than fundamental AI breakthroughs.
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Ethical concerns: The automation of complex workflows may disrupt employment in sectors like HR and data analysis.
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Commercial limitations: Early user tests suggest that highly complex tasks, such as interactive game development, still face a significant failure rate.
Long-Term Vision
The Manus AI development team has outlined three strategic goals:
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Democratisation of AI: Lowering the barriers to entry for users of all backgrounds.
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Expansion into new sectors: Exploring applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and other vertical industries.
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Enhancing human-AI collaboration: Improving user interactions for a more intuitive experience.
Their ultimate ambition is to position Manus AI as the core of an LLM-OS (Large Language Model Operating System), leading AI towards a new paradigm of autonomous execution rather than simple response generation.
Conclusion
The launch of Manus AI marks a major step forward in AI agent development. With its ability to independently execute complex tasks, integrate with external tools, and optimise its performance over time, it represents the next frontier in AI autonomy. However, the real test lies in its real-world application and its ability to deliver consistent practical value. As AI technology continues to evolve, seamlessly combining LLMs, AI agents, and intuitive interfaces will be the key to unlocking true AI-driven productivity.