Monica Unveils Manus: The AI Agent That Works Like a Human

Chinese AI startup Monica has released its artificial intelligence (AI) agent called “Manus”.

People are calling it the world’s first truly general AI agent because it doesn’t just respond to prompts like chatbots, it actually thinks, plans, and completes tasks all on its own.

Key Points

• Manus is more than just a chatbot or a search engine with a futuristic look. It is the first fully autonomous AI agent designed to replace human roles instead of just assisting them.
  
  Manus can plan a trip, analyze stocks in detail, create interactive coursework for teachers, and compare insurance policies. It handles complex tasks effortlessly. For example, if given resumes in a zip file, it doesn’t just rank candidates.
• Manus extracts skills, cross-checks them with market trends, and provides an optimized hiring decision along with a self-generated Excel report.
• Manus continues working even after you disconnect. You assign a task, walk away, and when you return, the results are ready. Its autonomous operations and cloud-based functionality allow users to delegate tasks without keeping their devices connected.
• The strength of Manus lies in its multi-agent architecture. Instead of relying on one neural network, it functions like an executive overseeing specialised sub-agents. This enables it to break down complex tasks into smaller parts and track their progress efficiently.
• Manu AI can generate files and actively browse the web for information. It can have live interaction with web pages, take screenshots, and even record browsing activity for later review.
  
  A demo on X (formerly Twitter) showcased Manus browsing the web, gathering information, using tools, and even controlling 50 different screens simultaneously.

Background

Monica, a Chinese AI startup founded by Xiao Hong in 2022, initially developed the Monica AI platform, integrating top AI models like GPT-4, Claude 3, and Gemini for tasks such as chat, search, writing, and coding.

Prior to Manus, Monica developed DeepSeek R1 and DeepSeek V3, advanced AI models with 671 billion parameters.

Building on this foundation, Monica released Manus on March 6, 2025, an autonomous AI agent capable of independently executing complex tasks.

These developments highlight Monica’s commitment to advancing AI technology and offering versatile solutions across different applications.

News Gist

Chinese AI startup Monica has launched Manus, an autonomous AI agent that independently thinks, plans, and completes tasks.

Unlike chatbots, it replaces human roles, handles complex projects, and works asynchronously. Its multi-agent system enables efficient problem-solving across various industries.