Understanding AI Agent Manus: Usage Guide and Key Features
Introducing Manus: A Groundbreaking AI Agent
China’s technology sector is buzzing with excitement over Manus, a new artificial intelligence agent developed by the startup Monica. The launch of Manus comes shortly after DeepSeek, showing China’s ambition to take the lead in the global AI race. This novel AI agent is already drawing comparisons to established models from companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
Understanding Manus
Manus is a versatile AI agent designed to perform real-world tasks autonomously. Unlike traditional chatbots that simply provide answers, Manus can complete tasks fully on its own, without any human intervention. For example, if tasked with writing a report about climate change, Manus can conduct research, write the content, create charts, and compile everything into a polished document—all by itself.
Key Differentiators of Manus
Launched on March 6, Manus has gained significant global interest. According to Monica, Manus surpasses OpenAI’s DeepResearch in the GAIA benchmark, which measures the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Demonstration videos show Manus in action, performing complex tasks in real-time by interacting with the internet. Its features include browsing websites, taking screenshots, capturing online behaviors, and generating reports, spreadsheets, or presentations, marking a significant advancement in AI technology.
Notable Features of Manus
- Autonomous Operation: Manus operates in the cloud, meaning it can continue working on tasks even if the user’s device loses power or connectivity.
- Real-Time Web Interaction: This AI constantly navigates the web and demonstrates its processes live, providing users with insight into how it collects and manages information.
- Adaptive Learning: Manus learns from user interactions to tailor its outputs to individual preferences, improving the quality and relevance of its responses over time.
- Cross-Platform Accessibility: Manus is capable of gathering information from various platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and more. It can even manage multiple screens simultaneously.
- Diverse Output Formats: Manus doesn’t just generate text; it can produce comprehensive reports, engaging presentations, and code for data visualizations and spreadsheets.
How to Utilize Manus
Interacting with Manus is similar to using traditional AI chatbots, but it offers a higher level of autonomy. Users can input a task, such as “Create a 7-day budget travel itinerary for Bali,” and Manus will research, compile data, and formulate a complete response. It assembles all relevant information, including links and maps, to deliver a thorough itinerary. Notably, Manus continues its work in the cloud even if the user disconnects, notifying them once the task is completed.
Future Prospects: Availability and Roadmap
Currently, Manus can be accessed through a web preview, though an invitation is necessary. While Monica has not provided a specific date for a public release, there are indications of a formal launch coming soon. The company plans to open-source the model in the coming months, which would allow developers to integrate it into their own projects. This move could lead to rapid enhancements and widespread adoption of the technology.
The introduction of Manus illustrates a shift towards AI-driven productivity tools, and as these technologies evolve, competition among firms like OpenAI, Google, and Monica is likely to intensify.
