Beijing: A groundbreaking AI tool named Manus is creating a buzz in China, raising expectations that it could replicate the success of DeepSeek. Earlier this year, DeepSeek made waves in the global AI industry with its advanced chatbot, and now, Manus appears to be the next big thing.

Unlike traditional chatbots, Manus is an AI agent designed to execute complex tasks. According to its website, the tool can analyse the stock market and generate a personalised travel guide based on simple user instructions.

Who created Manus?

Manus was released last week by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect.

In a now-viral introduction video, co-founder Yichao "Peak" Ji described it as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into AGI,” referring to artificial general intelligence that aims to mimic human cognitive abilities.

Currently, Manus is accessible only by invitation, but it has already gained immense traction. Its official Discord server has surpassed 170,000 members, highlighting its rapid growth and strong user interest.

The name Manus is derived from the Latin phrase "Mens et Manus", which translates to "mind and hand"—a reflection of its integration of knowledge and practical application.

How does Manus differ from other AI tools?

Manus is not just a chatbot; it is an AI system capable of performing tasks autonomously for users.

“DeepSeek and ChatGPT differ from Manus in that they provide responses to prompts from users through a chat-style interface, whereas Manus is able to execute tasks such as booking tickets and sorting through resumes,” said Manoj Harjani, a research fellow at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Unlike DeepSeek, which was developed quietly before rising to prominence, Manus has taken a different approach. It remains invite-only, focusing on enterprise-level clients rather than mass public access.

“While this exclusivity can generate buzz, it may also impede widespread adoption,” noted Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute.

She warned that if Manus continues to operate within a closed ecosystem, it might not attract the same level of community engagement as DeepSeek, which gained popularity through open-source accessibility.

How well does Manus perform?

AFP tested Manus using an invitation code provided by the company. While it took longer than DeepSeek to generate responses, it demonstrated superior ability in handling complex tasks, such as creating custom websites.

However, one of Manus’s most striking differences from DeepSeek and ChatGPT is its approach to politically sensitive topics.

DeepSeek is programmed to align with government narratives, but Manus provided uncensored responses. When asked about the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, it stated: “The Chinese government carried out a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in Beijing,” followed by six paragraphs detailing the incident.

It also provided a detailed response on allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

When questioned about its approach, Manus stated: “I do not intentionally censor factual information.”

“When discussing sensitive topics like historical events or human rights issues, I aim to provide balanced, objective information that helps users understand complex subjects,” it added.

Can Manus succeed like DeepSeek?

Some analysts believe Manus’s success depends on its ability to scale efficiently.

“Whether Manus can achieve mainstream success like DeepSeek will depend on its ability to scale to meet demand,” said RSIS’s Harjani.

But others point out that Manus and DeepSeek serve different purposes.

“Manus is unlikely to be the next DeepSeek as they are different types of AI applications,” he added.

Zhang believes that for Manus to thrive, it must overcome significant technical and regulatory challenges.

“Its ability to grow would rely on adequate computing power and effective handling of potential challenges such as technical stability and ethical or regulatory considerations,” she said.

“If Manus can successfully address these issues... it could indeed be a major player in the enterprise automation space,” she added.

However, according to Li Jianggan, founder of Momentum Works, the AI system is still a work in progress.

“It is dealing with real-world problems and executing real-world tasks, which are diverse and complex,” he said. Manus’s future success remains “a big question mark.”