China’s new AI digital assistant, Manus, has made waves with its debut, sparking a mix of excitement and skepticism among tech insiders. Developed by the startup Butterfly Effect, Manus is designed to function independently of human oversight, a feature that has fueled discussions about its potential and limitations.
Co-founder Yichao “Peak” Ji introduced Manus in a YouTube launch video, touting it as a breakthrough in human-machine collaboration and a possible step toward general artificial intelligence (AGI). The AI agent is currently in an invite-only testing phase, with limited access creating a sense of exclusivity.
While some early testers were blown away by Manus’ capabilities, others were underwhelmed. Hugging Face’s head of product design, Victor Mustar, described it as “the most impressive AI tool” he had ever used, praising its ability to operate autonomously. However, critics pointed out issues such as struggles with simple tasks like booking flights, frequent error messages, and security concerns due to its cloud-based operation.
The rise of Chinese AI models, including DeepSeek, has intensified competition with US tech giants like OpenAI and Google. Butterfly Effect claims Manus can handle complex tasks like buying property in New York or editing a podcast, but TechCrunch journalist Kyle Wiggers found it ineffective at basic requests such as ordering a sandwich or booking a flight.
Manus’ launch comes amid growing concerns over China’s rapid AI advancements, especially in light of US-imposed restrictions on high-tech chip exports. Some experts warn that unregulated AI agents operating online could lead to misinformation or financial disruptions. Corpora.ai CEO Mel Morris acknowledged Manus’ potential but cautioned that its access to remote servers poses risks to data confidentiality.
