"Manus" is a Chinese artificial intelligence agent.. Is it a real achievement or just a marketing hype
The launch of the new artificial intelligence agent (Manus) Manus, developed by the Chinese startup Monica, has sparked widespread controversy in the global technology community, as the company claims that Manus is the world's first general artificial intelligence agent, capable of accomplishing complex tasks with complete autonomy.
However, many experts and specialists questioned the veracity of these claims, saying that Manus ' capabilities are not up to the achievements that DeepSeek has achieved earlier.
The agent's announcement was also accompanied by a demo that spread like wildfire and sparked a heated debate on social media platforms between supporters and opponents, many praised Manus ' ability to perform complex tasks independently in the real world, bypassing the limits of traditional models limited to providing text answers, while others questioned the extent of its independence and effectiveness, pointing to potential loopholes and raising serious privacy concerns.
Hence, a key question arises: Does this proxy really represent a quantum leap in the world of artificial intelligence, or is it just an attempt to attract attention in a market crowded with innovations Here's everything you need to know about Manus, the world's first autonomous AI agent:
What are Manus's abilities
Manos was developed based on the concept of multi-agent systems, as it combines several different artificial intelligence models to perform tasks completely independently, without the need for repeated human intervention.once receiving initial guidance from the user, the agent can complete the task from start to finish, which distinguishes it from traditional chatbots.
A video of his launch shows his ability to sort resumes, classify candidates, and organize data into electronic tables in just a few seconds, demonstrating his speed and efficiency.
This is not just a traditional chatbot or a workflow automation tool, it's a completely autonomous proxy that connects the visualization and actual application phases,said yichao Baek-Ji, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Manus AI.
The company confirms that Manos has advanced capabilities that include: accurately analyzing stock market trends, extracting data from various internet sites, and even creating fully interactive websites.the system works via the cloud, allowing it to continue performing its tasks even when users leave the platform, a feature that enhances its flexibility and sustainability.
The official Manus website also notes its superiority over the deep Research agent from OpenAI in the Gaia standard, a standard used to compare the performance of models. However, access to Manus is limited to a select group of users at the moment, and a special invitation is required to participate in the test.
Who developed Manus
"Manus" is a Chinese artificial intelligence agent.. Is it a real achievement or just a marketing hype
The team responsible for the development of (Manus) Image Source: Optics Valley of China / Facebook
The artificial intelligence agent (Manus) was developed by the Chinese startup (Monica), which reportedly belongs to a company called (The Butterfly Effect), and the privacy policy of (Manus) confirms that (the Butterfly Effect) is a registered entity in Singapore.
Butterfly Effect has offices in Beijing and Wuhan, according to the SCMP newspaper, and the company is said to have only a few dozen employees, but it has quickly gained interest in the field of artificial intelligence in China.
The founding team consists of experienced entrepreneurs and product managers, and is led by (Xiao Hong) Xiao Hong, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, graduated from Huazhong University of Science and technology in Wuhan, one of the most prominent academic institutions in China.
Prior to that, Xiao developed applications that work within the WeChat platform, and later acquired by major companies, and then launched (Monica.ai), an artificial intelligence assistant available as a browser add-on and a smartphone app.
The official (Manus) website indicates that the name is derived from the Latin word (Manus), which means hand, in order to denote the agent's ability to perform tasks on behalf of users, or, as it can be said, provide assistance to them.
What models does the dealer rely on
According to yichao Baek-Ji's publications via the X platform, the agent is based on anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a nine-month-old artificial intelligence model, as well as modified versions of Alibaba's Qwen models from China.
The team is currently testing the upgrade of Manus to the latest and most powerful anthropic model, Claude 3.7, which is expected to significantly improve its reasoning and execution capabilities. The proxy currently works asynchronously, allowing users to assign it tasks and let it work autonomously.
Why is Manus compared to the company DeepSeek
"Manus" is a Chinese artificial intelligence agent.. Is it a real achievement or just a marketing hype
Many have drawn comparisons between Manus and the Chinese startup DeepSeek, which last January unveiled an artificial intelligence model with capabilities that rival those of American companies, and at a much lower cost.
This launch worried investors, causing Nvidia to temporarily lose up to 600 billion dollars of its market value, and also showed China's ability to develop pioneering artificial intelligence models, in the presence of US restrictions on the export of advanced chips, so experts described the moment of the launch of DeepSeek models as the Chinese Sputnik moment.
And now Manus is appearing in the spotlight claiming full autonomy, reinforcing the idea that China is getting closer to the United States in the AI race. It's inaccurate to call Manus a DeepSeek moment, because it goes beyond that,Dean Paul, an AI policy researcher, said in an X-platform post.
Paul explained: DeepSeek was aimed at replicating the capabilities that American companies have already achieved Manus is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. The most advanced computer currently using artificial intelligence comes from a Chinese startup, quite simply, he said
How far does Manus outperform its competitors in the United States
A large part of the popularity of Manos is due to its outstanding performance in standardized tests, it outperformed the Deep Research agent supported by the O3 model from OpenAI, as well as previous leading technologies, as shown in the graphs published on the official Manos website.
In addition to outstanding Benchmarking Performance, Manus proved his superior abilities in realistic scenarios in freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, as he was able to complete complex tasks with high efficiency, and also demonstrated his abilities in machine learning challenges via the Kaggle platform, as he successfully implemented complex tasks that require advanced analytical and deductive capabilities.
However, the opinions of researchers and founders in the field of artificial intelligence about the capabilities of Manus and its potential impact on the industry vary, ranging from extreme admiration to skepticism about its real capabilities. While many AI experts and early adopters see it as a paradigm shift in the field, others question its ability to deliver on the promises it makes.
Victor Mostar, head of product at Huggingface, described Manus as the most impressive AI tool I've used so far, asserting that its capabilities are redefining the limits of the possible.
Mostar even went further, suggesting in an X cross-platform post that “Manus” might eliminate the need for traditional programming, saying, this might eliminate the concept of programming.. It will become more like the harmony of ideas,or whatever other name you prefer.
Kyle Wiggers of TechCrunch and Alexander Doria, co-founder of Pleias, pointed out that they encountered real-life errors, execution failures, and endless repetition loops during their tests.
Pierre-Karl Langlet, co-founder of Pleias, expressed mixed reactions after his experience, praising the user interface that allows users to track and verify Manos ' steps, but criticized what he described as (avid marketing) tactics, that is, creating artificial hype by restricting access to a select group of influencers.
Langlet concluded by calling for higher standards of openness and transparency in the AI market, at all levels: models, data, business practices.
Manus and privacy concerns:
The artificial intelligence agent Manus raises serious data privacy concerns, similar to the concerns raised about DeepSeek. Luisa jarovsky, an artificial intelligence researcher, has expressed deep concern about the location of the Manus data storage, and the possibility of access by the Chinese authorities to it. This concern is compounded by the ambiguity surrounding the ownership of Manos, which increases doubts about who is responsible for protecting users ' data.
In a post on the Substack platform, jarovsky wondered: Where are the servers located? Is user data being transferred to China” These questions reflect a growing concern among users about how their personal data will be handled, especially in light of the accelerated developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
Mel Morris, CEO of the company (Corpora.ai), jarovsky worried about data privacy, citing Manus ' link to China. Morris believes that these factors will intensify the ongoing debate about the security and governance of artificial intelligence, especially in light of the increasing reliance on these technologies in various aspects of life.
Regardless of the veracity of the claims about the artificial intelligence agent (Manus), its launch shows the rapid progress that China is making in the field of artificial intelligence, and as China continues to invest in this field, competition between it and the United States is expected to increase in the coming years.
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