Chinese startup Butterfly Effect has introduced a new AI tool named Manus, which was released last week and is already creating excitement in the tech industry. This powerful AI assistant is expected to follow the success of DeepSeek, which earlier this year made a significant impact with its advanced chatbot capabilities.

Manus is described as an AI agent that surpasses traditional chatbots, enabling users to perform a variety of tasks such as analyzing stock market trends and creating personalized travel guides based on simple user instructions. According to its website, Manus embodies a unique combination of knowledge and practical application, as suggested by its name derived from the Latin phrase “Mens et Manus,” meaning “mind and hand.”

The initial buzz around Manus is evident, with its official Discord server rapidly growing to more than 170 000 members, despite the platform currently being available only through an invite-only access. Yichao “Peak” Ji, co-founder of Butterfly Effect, referred to Manus as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into AGI,” which stands for artificial general intelligence that aims to replicate human thought processes.

Research fellow Manoj Harjani from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) highlighted that Manus operates differently from DeepSeek and ChatGPT. He explained that while the latter two provide responses via a chat format, Manus can autonomously execute tasks for users, such as booking tickets and sorting resumes.

However, concerns have been raised about Manus’s exclusive access model. Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute, warned that this could hinder its broader appeal, unlike DeepSeek which thrived through open-source engagement.

In tests conducted by AFP with an invitation code, Manus demonstrated slower response times compared to DeepSeek, but it successfully completed more complex tasks, such as creating custom websites. On sensitive political topics, Manus provided uncensored and accurate information, including a detailed account of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, which contrasts with DeepSeek’s approach to politically sensitive subjects.

Manus has stated that it does not censor factual information and aims to deliver balanced insights on complex and contentious topics. Li Jianggan, founder of Momentum Works, pointed out that Manus’s focus on task execution might have resulted in a less rigorous content control mechanism compared to chatbots like DeepSeek and ChatGPT.

The potential for Manus to achieve mainstream success similar to DeepSeek remains uncertain. RSIS’s Harjani indicated that its scalability and demand management will be crucial for its future. Zhang noted that Manus must address technical stability, ethical, and regulatory challenges to become a significant player in enterprise automation.

Despite its promising features, Manus is still “far from perfect” and is not yet available to the general public, as its developers may want to enhance the program further. Li emphasized the complexity of real-world tasks that Manus aims to tackle, leaving its overall success as an open question.