Beijing: A groundbreaking AI tool, Manus, is making headlines in China, raising expectations that it could mirror the impact of DeepSeek, which earlier this year took the tech world by storm with its cutting-edge chatbot capabilities.
What is Manus?
Manus, a more advanced AI system than a conventional chatbot, is designed to perform a variety of tasks, from analyzing stock market trends to crafting customized travel guides based on simple user instructions, according to its official website.
Manus’ Rapid Growth
Manus was launched last week by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect.
In a widely shared introduction video, co-founder Yichao “Peak” Ji described it as “the next evolution in human-machine collaboration” and hinted that it could be a step toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—technology that aims to think and function like humans.
Currently available only via invitation, Manus has quickly gained traction, with its Discord server surpassing 170,000 members.
Its name is derived from the Latin phrase “Mens et Manus”, meaning “mind and hand”, reflecting its ability to integrate knowledge with practical application.
How is it Different?
Unlike standard chatbots like DeepSeek or ChatGPT, which provide responses based on user prompts in a chat format.
Manus is an autonomous system capable of executing tasks like booking tickets or filtering job resumes, explains Manoj Harjani, a research fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
While DeepSeek was developed discreetly before making waves globally, Manus has taken a different approach—offering an invite-only beta version and targeting enterprise users.
However, this exclusivity could be a double-edged sword.
Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute, points out that while limited access can build excitement, it might also slow widespread adoption.
Unlike DeepSeek, which engaged a broad community through open-source development, Manus’ closed ecosystem may prevent it from achieving the same level of popularity.
An early test of Manus by AFP, using an invitation code from the developers, showed that while it took longer than DeepSeek to generate responses, it successfully handled more complex tasks, including building custom websites—something its competitors struggle with.
Handling Sensitive Topics
One surprising aspect of Manus is its handling of politically sensitive subjects.
While DeepSeek has been programmed to align with China’s government-approved narratives, Manus provides uncensored, fact-based responses.
For example, when asked about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Manus stated that the Chinese government “carried out a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing,” followed by a detailed six-paragraph account of the incident.
It also offered a comprehensive response on allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang.
When questioned about its approach to such topics, Manus stated that it does not intentionally censor factual information and aims to provide “balanced, objective details to help users understand complex subjects.”
According to Li Jianggan, founder of Singapore-based consultancy Momentum Works, this may be because Manus is primarily designed for task execution, and its developers haven’t built content control mechanisms as strictly as DeepSeek and ChatGPT.
Can it Match DeepSeek’s Success?
While Manus has potential, experts remain cautious about its ability to achieve mainstream adoption like DeepSeek.
RSIS’s Harjani believes its success will depend on whether it can scale efficiently to meet demand.
Meanwhile, Zhang emphasizes the importance of having adequate computing power, technical stability, and compliance with ethical and regulatory frameworks.
If Manus can navigate these challenges, it could become a dominant player in enterprise automation, she added.
However, Li Jianggan warns that the AI system is still far from perfect and its developers may be limiting access as they work on improvements.
“Manus is designed to solve real-world problems and handle complex tasks,” he explained. “Its future remains uncertain.”