A new AI agent called Manus has emerged from China in recent days, claiming to be the world’s first general-purpose AI agent. The product has quickly gone viral across Chinese social media, generating both amazement and skepticism among industry observers.
Impressive Capabilities Demonstrated
According to initial evaluations, Manus exhibits a remarkable “human-like work experience,” effortlessly handling tasks such as writing articles, creating PowerPoint presentations, and compiling analytical reports. Some reviewers suggest that Manus represents the embryonic form of a new AI agent species, with innovations in technical integration and user experience worth attention.
A journalist from Daily Economic News, who received an early invitation code, conducted multiple task tests including article writing, report and presentation creation, coding, and UI design.
When asked to write a news report about the company behind Manus with a simple prompt, the system generated a comprehensive article in just 18 minutes. Interestingly, Manus displays its entire workflow to users, mimicking human work habits – it searches various websites for usable materials and even gets temporarily stuck at login interfaces when lacking credentials.
In another test, Manus created a 31-page PowerPoint presentation analyzing Tesla stock, complete with a detailed multi-dimensional report. The output featured rich elements, comprehensive analysis dimensions, and abundant charts, providing intuitive visualization of the data.
For a coding task involving cycle detection in programs, Manus demonstrated deep understanding of computer science theory, first explaining that the problem has no general solution before attempting alternative approaches. A senior programmer from a major North American tech company evaluated the code as reliable, noting that Manus could run server-side tests and provide results.
Technical Strengths Highlighted
Tech media outlet MindCode conducted an in-depth analysis of Manus, highlighting its strengths in vertical integration, user experience, UI innovation, and technical integration. The report noted that Manus is particularly impressive for a startup company.
Manus’s technical capabilities primarily manifest in three areas:
- Some degree of post-training that creates a “magical feel”
- Successfully implementing multi-agent collaboration and multi-model integration
- Effectively integrating multiple existing technologies into a cohesive product
The system’s UI-based exploration has expanded the user base beyond programmers (unlike previous tools like Devin which focused mainly on coding scenarios), creating greater potential value.
Controversies and Skepticism
Despite its viral success, Manus faces significant skepticism. Critics point to several suspicious patterns:
- A stark contrast between domestic and international attention
- An unusual promotion pattern with numerous influencers suddenly promoting Manus simultaneously (around 6-7 AM on March 6)
- Limited visibility on international platforms
- Marketing primarily driven by influencers rather than technical professionals
- Limited availability of non-official evaluations due to the invitation code system
Some observers note that unlike DeepSeek, which gained popularity after being tested by professionals before media coverage, Manus appears to have been promoted primarily through influencer channels first, raising concerns about potential marketing hype.
Regarding the invitation code controversy, a Manus representative stated yesterday that the company has never established any paid channels for obtaining invitation codes, nor invested in marketing promotion budgets.
User Value Still in Question
Despite the impressive UI and workflow demonstrations, some evaluations suggest that Manus’s output quality and problem-solving capabilities do not significantly differ from existing products like Claude or GPT. Critics argue that users should focus less on the impressive “human-like work” experience and more on the system’s actual problem-solving abilities.
Whether Manus represents a genuine technological breakthrough or merely excellent marketing remains to be determined. As more users gain access and third-party evaluations emerge, the market will ultimately deliver its verdict on this new AI agent’s true capabilities.