Chinese artificial intelligence firm Manus AI has launched its next-generation general AI agent, Manus, which has taken the tech world by storm. Within hours of its release, social media buzzed with excitement, with industry insiders calling it “the GPT moment” for AI agents and comparing it to DeepSeek, another recent disruptor in China’s AI race.

Manus AI: A New Industry Disruptor?

Manus AI claims its tool has surpassed OpenAI’s models in performance, based on results from the GAIA Benchmark, an industry-standard test for AI capabilities across various difficulty levels.

“This isn’t just another chatbot or workflow tool,” said Ji Yichao, co-founder and chief scientist at Manus AI. “It’s a truly autonomous agent that bridges the gap between conception and execution.”

According to Ji, Manus is designed to go beyond content generation, distinguishing itself from traditional AI assistants by offering end-to-end automation of tasks.

“Where other AI stops at generating ideas, Manus delivers results,” he added, hinting at the AI’s potential in real-world applications.

Manus Invitation Codes Selling for Nearly $14,000

The hype around Manus AI has led to a black market for invitation codes, with resales reaching 100,000 yuan ($13,797) on China’s second-hand trading platforms. This reflects the growing demand for cutting-edge AI tools in China’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.

Manus AI’s Background and Tencent’s Involvement

Manus AI was founded in 2015 by Xiao Hong, but according to Tianyancha, a corporate database firm, he exited as a shareholder in December 2024. Following his departure, Tencent’s venture capital arm increased its stake in the company, signaling strong backing from China’s tech giants.

Another related company, Monica.im, which operates part of the Manus AI ecosystem, is linked to Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology Co Ltd. The firm secured seed funding from ZhenFund in July 2022, highlighting growing investor confidence in China’s AI innovation.

The Future of AI Agents: A New Business Model?

Industry analysts believe Manus AI’s launch could redefine the AI agent market. Unlike traditional chatbots or automation tools, general AI agents offer a fully autonomous workflow solution, making them one of the most disruptive AI applications since AI-powered search.

According to Gartner’s January 2024 report, 21% of enterprises had already integrated AI agents into their production workflows. By 2026, this figure is expected to exceed 80%, demonstrating the explosive demand for AI-powered automation.

Final Take

With Tencent’s backing, record-breaking demand, and benchmark-beating performance, Manus AI is positioning itself as China’s next AI leader. The Manus ecosystem strategy signals a potential shift in the business model for AI agents, paving the way for more autonomous, end-to-end AI solutions.

Will Manus AI emerge as China’s answer to OpenAI, or is it just another fleeting tech sensation? The coming months will determine whether Manus can live up to the hype and transform the AI industry for good.

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