What is Manus AI?

• Blockchain Council
• March 12, 2025

Can you imagine waking up to find your entire workload already finished? Emails answered, reports compiled, research completed, without lifting a finger. Not by a team of assistants, but by an AI that works entirely on its own. No prompts, no follow-ups, no endless back-and-forth. Just results.

We are talking about the world’s first fully autonomous AI agent, Manus. Created by Monica, a startup based in Shanghai, Manus AI launched on March 6, 2025. It has quickly gained attention for being capable of handling tasks like research, automation and content creation. Many now see it as a major breakthrough, calling it China’s Second DeepSeek Moment.

This shift has left many stunned, skeptical, or outright excited. Some see it as the next industrial revolution, a tool that could automate research, business operations and creative work. Others worry, if AI can now work fully on its own, what does that mean for human roles?

But what exactly is Manus AI? How does it work? And why is accessing it costing users a handsome amount of money? Let’s find out!

What is Manus AI?

Manus AI is a fully autonomous artificial intelligence system that takes full control of tasks, from planning to execution, without requiring ongoing user input. Unlike traditional AI assistants that provide suggestions or generate responses based on prompts, Manus AI operates independently, carrying out complex, multi-step tasks on its own.

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Why Is It Called Manus AI?

The name “Manus” comes from the Latin phrase “mens et manus,” which means “mind and hand.” This reflects how the AI is designed, it doesn’t just process information, it takes action.

Unlike most AI models that only provide suggestions, Manus AI performs and completes tasks like a real assistant. This ability to both think and execute makes it stand out in automation technology.

Who Created Manus AI?

The Team Behind Manus AI

Manus AI was created by Monica, a Shanghai-based AI startup led by:

• Xiao Hong – A tech entrepreneur who graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015. In 2022, he developed a popular AI browser extension used globally.
• Yichao “Peak” Ji – A former developer of the Mammoth browser, known for its speed and privacy features. His experience helped shape Manus AI’s web automation.

Funding and Early Development

The startup raised over $10 million from investors like Tencent and ZhenFund. By late 2024, Manus AI prototypes could:

• Browse the web without user input.
• Conduct deep research and analysis.
• Process business data automatically.

What Happened at Launch?

On March 6, 2025, Manus AI launched with an invite-only system, creating a surge in demand. Within weeks:

• Discord membership grew to 138,000 users.
• Manus AI invitation codes were being resold for up to $13,797 on China’s Xianyu marketplace.
• Weibo posts about “Manus AI’s young founder” got 27.8 million reads.

The excitement was massive, but there were challenges. Slow processing times and server crashes frustrated some users, highlighting the scalability issues Monica needed to fix.

How Does Manus AI Work?

Multi-Agent AI System

Unlike a single AI model, Manus AI operates as a network of specialized agents. Each agent handles a specific task.

For example, if given a request to analyze industry trends, it:

1. Assigns a research agent to collect relevant news and data.
2. Uses a data-processing agent to analyze numbers and past trends.
3. Activates a content agent to write a structured report.
4. Runs a verification agent to check accuracy before presenting results.

This system allows Manus AI to break down tasks, delegate work and complete jobs without human involvement.

Example Task – Tesla Stock Analysis

If asked to analyze Tesla’s stock performance, here’s what happens:

• One agent gathers financial reports and SEC filings.
• Another examines historical stock trends.
• A third creates an interactive dashboard with data visualizations.
• The system then compiles everything into a final investment report.

Continuous Execution in the Cloud

Manus AI keeps working even if the user logs off. Since it runs entirely in the cloud, tasks continue uninterrupted. Users receive a notification when the work is finished.

Real-Time Workflow Display

Unlike many AI models that only show final results, Manus AI displays every step it takes. Users can watch it browse sites, collect data and make decisions in real time.

How Well Does Manus AI Perform?

GAIA Benchmark Scores

The GAIA Benchmark is a test for AI agents, measuring how well they complete real-world tasks.

• Human performance: 92%
• GPT-4 with plugins: 15%
• Manus AI: Highest scores in all categories, 12.2% ahead of OpenAI’s Deep Research

GAIA Benchmark Performance

Benchmark Level	Manus AI (Pass@1)	OpenAI DeepResearch (Pass@1)	Previous Best AI
Level 1	86.5%	74.3%	67.9%
Level 2	70.1%	69.1%	67.4%
Level 3	57.7%	47.6%	42.3%

These numbers show that Manus AI is far ahead in AI autonomy and execution.

Why Is Manus AI a Global Breakthrough?

What Was the First DeepSeek Moment?

In January 2025, China’s DeepSeek AI made headlines for competing with OpenAI’s GPT models at a lower cost. This was seen as a huge milestone for China’s AI industry.

Why Is Manus AI the “Second DeepSeek Moment”?

Now, Manus AI takes things further by introducing full autonomy. Experts believe this shift means China is not just catching up to Western AI companies but surpassing them.

Hugging Face CEO Clement Delangue called Manus AI “mind-blowing,” saying AI is now more about autonomy than just raw computing power.

How to Use Manus AI?

1. Sign up on the official Manus AI website (invite-only).
2. Enter a request in natural language (e.g., “Compare Tesla’s stock to Apple’s over the last 5 years”).
3. Watch the AI work, as it browses, collects data and processes results.
4. Receive a structured report or analysis.

Users can also explore Manus Spaces, a platform where people share AI-generated projects.

How to Get a Manus AI Invitation Code?

Since Manus AI is invite-only, getting access requires an invitation code. These can be:

• Requested through the official website (if invitations are open).
• Obtained from existing users who can send invites.
• Found on community forums like Discord and Twitter.
• Purchased on resale platforms (though prices can be extremely high).

How Is Manus AI Different from Other AI Systems?

Traditional AI Assistants (ChatGPT, Google Gemini)

• Need constant user input.
• Provide answers and suggestions, but don’t execute tasks.
• Require guidance to complete complex jobs.

Manus AI

• Works independently from start to finish.
• Runs in real time with full process transparency.
• Manages multi-step projects without intervention.

What Are the Limitations of Manus AI?

Despite its strengths, Manus AI has a few drawbacks:

• Overloaded servers – High demand has slowed processing.
• Occasional failures – Complex tasks sometimes freeze.
• Limited access – The invite-only system restricts users.

What’s Next for Manus AI?

Upcoming Developments

• Open-source release – Monica may release parts of the code in 2025.
• Global expansion – The team is working on fixing server issues for a wider launch.
• Regulations – As AI becomes more autonomous, governments may introduce stricter rules.

A bigger question remains: Will AI like Manus eventually replace human decision-making in major industries?

Final Thoughts

Manus AI is unlike any AI released before. It brings real autonomy, handling tasks from start to finish without user guidance. With its multi-agent processing and superior performance, it’s setting a new standard for AI automation.

However, scalability issues and limited access still need to be solved. If Monica expands its availability and improves performance, Manus AI could transform how individuals and businesses use AI in the future.