Chinese startup Monica has released Manus, an AI agent generating widespread attention within just 20 hours of its preview launch.
By Aniket Chakraborty
Mar 7, 2025
Chinese startup Monica has released Manus, an AI agent generating widespread attention within just 20 hours of its preview launch.
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Manus claims to be the world's first truly general AI agent, capable of independently thinking, planning, and executing complex tasks.
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According to the company's website, Manus "bridges minds and actions" and can handle various work and life tasks while users rest.
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The AI agent can create custom guidebooks for trips and perform deep analysis of stocks like Tesla, among other applications.
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On the GAIA benchmark for evaluating General AI Assistants, Manus reportedly achieved state-of-the-art performances across all difficulty levels.
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The name "Manus" derives from "Mens et Manus" (Mind and Hand), reflecting the belief that knowledge must be applied to impact the world.
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Ji Yichao, co-founder and chief scientist, called Manus "the next evolution in AI" and "potentially a glimpse into AGI."
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Invitation codes to access Manus are scarce, with prices ranging from 999 yuan ($137) to 50,000 yuan ($6,900) on secondhand platforms.
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Zhang Tao, a partner at Manus AI, explained the invitation system was due to limited server capacity and asked for public understanding of their small team.