Manus AI Agent: Another DeepSeek Moment for China

In March 2025, a new AI breakthrough from China made global headlines, Manus AI Agent.

Much like DeepSeek before it, this AI agent is not just a chatbot or coding assistant but a full-fledged autonomous AI worker capable of performing complex tasks independently.

Unlike traditional AI models that wait for user input, Manus plans, analyzes, and makes decisions with minimal human oversight.

From automating supply chains to diagnosing medical conditions, Manus AI is reshaping industries.

Many experts compare it to DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini, but Manus takes AI autonomy to a new level.

With self-learning, multimodal processing, and real-world action execution, it marks a significant shift in AI capabilities.

In this article, we’ll explore what Manus AI is, how it works, and why it’s making waves in AI and automation.

What is Manus AI?

Manus AI is an autonomous AI agent designed to complete tasks without constant human input.

Developed by a Shenzhen-based startup, Manus integrates large language models (LLMs), real-time data processing, and machine learning to function like a digital employee rather than just a chatbot.

Key Features of Manus AI:

• Autonomous Task Execution: Manus AI doesn’t just answer questions, it plans, executes, and refine tasks without constant user input.
  If you ask it to “optimize a supply chain”, it identifies bottlenecks, predicts disruptions, and suggests solutions.
  
• Multimodal Interaction: Manus can process text, video, images. An HR can upload a zip file containing all the resumes of candidates applied for the specific role, and Manus find the best one out of it.
  
• Self-Learning Capabilities: The AI improves over time by analyzing past outcomes.
  
• Cross-Platform Integration: Manus AI works seamlessly with tools like Slack, Excel, and ERP systems.

Why is Manus AI Making Waves?

1. A Leap Beyond DeepSeek

China’s DeepSeek AI, launched in 2024, gained popularity for its code-generation capabilities, but Manus AI takes things further.

Unlike DeepSeek, which mainly assists with software development, Manus AI is an autonomous decision-maker across multiple industries.

2. Real-World Applications

Manus AI is not just a research experiment—it is already solving real problems in various industries:

• Healthcare: Manus AI assists doctors by analyzing patient histories, lab results, and research papers to recommend personalized treatments.
• Agriculture: Manus monitors soil sensors and weather data to advise farmers on irrigation and pest control.
• Finance: The AI predicts market trends by analyzing global news, earnings reports, and social media sentiment.
• Retail & Logistics: Helps businesses manage inventory, pricing, and customer demand forecasting.

How Manus AI Works?

Architecture of Manus AI

Manus AI operates as a multi-agent system, where each agent specializes in a specific aspect of task completion. This architecture allows Manus to break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps and solve problems sequentially.

Key Components:

1. Foundation Models:
   Manus uses powerful foundation language models like Anthropic's Claude and Alibaba's Qwen. These models serve as the core reasoning engine, enabling Manus to process and generate text, images, and code.
2. Execution and Automation:
   Manus executes shell commands, manages processes, automates system tasks, and interacts with web applications. It uses a sandbox environment to ensure security while executing tasks.
3. Adaptive Learning:
   Manus uses optimized training algorithms like reinforcement learning to learn from past interactions and improve its performance over time. It also uses long-term memory mechanisms to retain information from past sessions.

Example Task Execution:
For a task like forecasting sales for Q2, Manus AI:

• Analyzes Events: Understands the task by processing relevant data and user requests.
• Selects Tools: Chooses appropriate tools or APIs for data analysis.
• Executes Commands: Runs scripts to analyze past sales data, identify market trends, and adjust predictions based on external factors.
• Iterates: Refines predictions based on new data and observations.
• Submits Results: Provides structured outputs like reports or visualizations.

Training and Ethical Considerations

• Data Sources: Manus AI trains on anonymized industry data and synthetic scenarios to reduce bias.
• Human Oversight: Users set guardrails to prevent risky actions (e.g., preventing overspending without approval).

However, Euronews raised concerns that Manus’s decision-making remains a black box, similar to early self-driving cars.

How to Use Manus AI: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sign Up: Access the AI via manus.im and sign in via invitation code.
2. Define Objectives: Users input a goal, such as “reduce customer service response time”.
3. Integrate Data Sources: Connect Manus AI to emails, databases, and CRM tools.
4. Monitor & Refine: Manus provides daily reports and automated insights, which businesses can fine-tune.

Pricing Plans:

• Starter Plan: $69/month (Supports 500 tasks).
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with advanced features and support.

Challenges and Controversies

Job Displacement Fears

Companies use Manus AI to improve efficiency in logistics and education. It can automate tasks like data analysis and customer support, reducing the need for human workers.

A company might replace some customer service employees with Manus AI. The company may argue that workers are moving to creative or strategic roles, similar to how a Philippine call center reassigned employees after adopting AI.

Security Risks

Manus AI can automate web tasks and code execution. If not managed properly, it could pose security risks.

Hackers might find a weakness in Manus AI’s API and steal sensitive data. Developers must use strong security measures like encryption and regular audits to prevent such attacks.

Global Bias

Manus AI handles many tasks, including financial analysis and travel planning. But if its training data lacks diversity, it may produce biased results.

If it provides agricultural advice, its recommendations might favor Asian or European farming practices. This could make the advice less useful for farmers in Nigeria, where conditions are different.

Additional Challenges

• Data Privacy Concerns: Manus AI runs on the cloud and requires users to upload data. This raises concerns about data ownership and privacy, especially when the data is processed in countries with different regulations.
• Ethical Oversight: Since it works autonomously, strong ethical guidelines are needed to prevent problems like financial fraud or identity theft.

The Future of Autonomous AI Agents

Personal AI Assistants

Manus AI will help people manage daily tasks like scheduling, budgeting, and travel planning. It can book flights based on budget, weather, and personal preferences to make travel easier.

A user asks Manus AI to plan a trip to Tokyo. The AI finds real-time information on flights, hotels, and attractions and creates a personalized itinerary that fits the user's budget.

Government Adoption

Governments are testing Manus AI in public services like healthcare. Spain’s hospitals use it to predict patient inflows and help medical staff prepare for busy periods, reducing emergency room wait times.

Manus AI analyzes past and current health data to help hospitals manage resources better. This ensures medical staff are ready for peak times and improves patient care.

Quantum Computing Collaboration

Manus AI may partner with a quantum computing company to solve complex problems in science, city planning, and climate studies.

In biotechnology, Manus AI could use quantum computing to model protein structures more accurately, leading to better drug development. In urban planning, it could analyze data to predict and improve traffic flow.

Conclusion

Manus AI is not just another chatbot—it represents a major leap forward in AI autonomy. By integrating real-time learning, multimodal processing, and real-world automation, Manus is transforming industries across the globe.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. As Forbes put it, “Manus changes everything, but humanity must steer the wheel.”

References:

• Manus AI Official Website: (manus.im)
• Forbes: "China’s Autonomous Agent Manus Changes Everything" (Link)
• Everyone in AI is talking about Manus. We put it to the test.(Link)

FAQs

1. What is Manus AI Agent?
Manus AI Agent is an advanced AI system designed to handle complex tasks autonomously, similar to DeepSeek's innovations. It integrates machine learning and automation to enhance productivity.

2. How does Manus AI compare to DeepSeek?
Manus AI and DeepSeek share similarities in AI-driven automation, but Manus AI focuses on specific task execution, decision-making, and seamless workflow integration.

3. Why is Manus AI significant for China’s AI industry?
Manus AI represents China’s growing influence in AI, competing with global advancements. It showcases breakthroughs in AI automation, making it a potential game-changer.