Did Manus Experience a DeepSeek-like Surge? Questions Arise for Chinese AI Agent Following Swift Ascent to Prominence
Manus: The New General-Purpose AI Agent
Introduction to Manus
Manus is a new general-purpose artificial intelligence agent created by a team based in China. However, its launch has sparked questions about its technological capability. This skepticism arises from the limited number of users who have been able to test Manus due to a sudden surge in popularity that led to a shortage of server capacity.
Popularity and Market Response
Manus has attracted significant attention for its abilities to handle complicated tasks. Investors view it as another major advancement in AI technology, especially after successful models developed by DeepSeek. Despite this buzz, the availability of Manus is limited just one day post-launch. Adding to the confusion, the team’s social media account on platform X (formerly known as Twitter) was suspended shortly after the release.
Invitation-Only Access
Due to its invite-only launch, many individuals have scrambled to gain access to Manus. On the second-hand online marketplace Xianyu, enterprising vendors are selling invitation codes or even renting out user accounts. Critics have pointed fingers at the Manus team, suggesting they might be using scarcity as a marketing tactic to boost demand.
Server Capacity Issues
A product partner for Manus, Zhang Tao, publicly addressed the concerns about access. He explained that the invite-only model resulted from limited server resources. The team initially underestimated public interest and prepared their server infrastructure only for demonstration purposes.
“The current version of Manus is still in its infancy, far from what we aim to deliver in our final product,” Zhang indicated.
This admission suggests that the team is aware of their limitations and acknowledges the need for further development.
Challenges with Social Media
The company faced another hurdle when their official account on X was suspended. Co-founder and chief scientist Yichao Ji stated that they are actively seeking to resolve this issue with support from the platform. The suspension appears to be linked to unrelated third-party accounts that have been involved in cryptocurrency scams, potentially trying to exploit Manus’s visibility.
Summary of Key Challenges
Limited Access: The invite-only launch has made it hard for many to test Manus, causing frustration among potential users.
Server Capacity: The team underestimated how quickly Manus would gain popularity, leading to server resources being stretched thin.
- Suspended Social Media Account: The company’s account suspension has limited their ability to communicate effectively with users.
The Future of Manus
Despite the current limitations, Manus continues to generate excitement in the tech community. As the developers work on scaling server capacity and resolving social media issues, the hope remains that future updates will improve accessibility and capabilities.
Investors and potential users are keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding Manus, anticipating further advancements that could solidify its position in the competitive AI landscape.
