Manus AI Invite Codes Fetch High Prices on Social Media
The Hype Surrounding China’s Manus AI
The Rise of Manus AI
The recent excitement about Manus, a new artificial intelligence (AI) agent from China, has led to the emergence of a secondary market where users are trading invitation codes for access. Manus has gained popularity on various social media platforms and second-hand item websites. As demand spikes, some individuals who received limited beta-testing invitations have begun-selling these codes for significant amounts, often exceeding 50,000 Chinese yuan (around $6,800). In some cases, codes have even fetched prices as high as 100,000 yuan (approximately $13,800), as reported by China Daily.
The Invitation Code Market
The availability of Manus has been very limited, with the official waitlist surpassing one million users. To generate interest and manage server strain, the company behind Manus, Monica.im, has issued a small number of invitation codes to select influencers on social media. This move has been described as a savvy marketing tactic. However, according to Zhang Tao, a partner at Manus AI, no specific marketing budget has been allocated for this endeavor. Instead, he states that the invitation codes were necessary due to unavoidable limitations in server capacity.
Selling and Trading Codes
Some influencers have received invitation codes to distribute for testing, but many in the community are reselling these access codes for profit. For example, one user on X (formerly Twitter) was offering his code for $1,000. Meanwhile, some researchers and content creators focus on using these codes for genuine testing purposes, organizing competitions to encourage the submission of valid test cases.
A Competitive Landscape
The competition for access to Manus has generated considerable buzz within the tech community. "DeepSeek," another AI that initially thrived with an open-access model, faced challenges due to server crashes, leading to a limit on email signups. Kofluence’s co-founder, Ritesh Ujjwal, noted that the current access approach used by Monica.im has garnered significant attention, possibly serving as a public relations tactic to amplify interest.
Manus AI Features
Capabilities of Manus AI
Manus is often referred to as China’s "second DeepSeek moment," thanks to its remarkable autonomous capabilities. The AI agent can perform complex tasks such as planning trips, making reservations, and executing various actions without human intervention. These features draw comparisons to leading AI platforms such as OpenAI’s technologies and Anthropic’s computer use.
Advanced Performance Metrics
Suraj Amonkar, the chief AI research and platforms officer at Fractal Analytics, emphasizes the advancements that Manus AI represents. He points out that its performance on the GAIA benchmark is particularly impressive, signaling a significant leap in the autonomy of AI agents. According to Amonkar, Manus’s ability to manage several subtasks simultaneously across various screens allows it to perform intricate tasks, a first in the realm of AI development.
The Implications for the AI Industry
The debut of Manus AI has stirred up discussions about the future of AI in China and worldwide. As companies strive to improve AI capabilities, Manus represents a significant step forward, challenging existing products from giants like Google and OpenAI. The public and private sectors alike are keen to scrutinize its functionalities and assess its impact on the growing AI landscape.
Through its unique invitation system and impressive feature set, Manus AI is set to shape discussions around artificial intelligence, possibly leading to greater innovations in the field. The ongoing buzz and market activity surrounding the AI agent demonstrate rapid interest in advanced technologies, which are poised to redefine how humans interact with machines.
