Chinese Company Introduced Manus AI to Outperform DeepSeek: Here’s Everything We Know So Far

With the arrival of Artificial Intelligence, the dynamics of how we perceive information have transformed globally. China emerges as a key player challenging U.S. dominance in AI innovation, with companies like Monica pushing boundaries through tools like Manus AI. Here’s a detailed look at this groundbreaking development.

What We Know So Far About Manus AI

Monica, an AI firm backed by parent company The Butterfly Effect, recently unveiled Manus AI—an autonomous agent designed to handle complex real-world tasks. Unlike domain-specific tools such as OpenAI’s Operator or Google’s Gemini Deep Research, Manus operates across seven categories:

• Research: Conducts competitive analysis and academic research
• Life: Manages scheduling and travel planning
• Data Analysis: Processes financial transactions and generates reports
• Productivity: Optimizes workflows and delegates tasks

Capabilities and Benchmark Performance

Manus AI claims superiority over existing models on the GAIA benchmark, a framework for evaluating general AI assistants. Its official website showcases unique demonstrations, including:

• Controlling 50 screens simultaneously to automate cross-platform workflows
• Generating interactive websites from single prompts
• Analyzing stock market trends using real-time data aggregation

The DeepSeek Comparison

Following DeepSeek’s disruption of GPU markets earlier this year, Manus represents China’s next stride in AI autonomy. While DeepSeek focused on cost-efficient model training, Manus emphasizes:

• End-to-end task execution without human intervention
• Integration with third-party tools like Telegram and X
• Open collaboration features via its Discord community of 138,000+ members

Technical Architecture and Limitations

Early analysis suggests Manus combines fine-tuned versions of Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen models. However, users report challenges:

• Occasional factual inaccuracies in generated reports
• Server latency during peak usage periods
• Opaque model disclosure practices

Industry Implications

As of March 2025, Manus operates under invite-only access while expanding computational infrastructure. Its arrival signals China’s strategic shift from AI imitation to genuine innovation—particularly in autonomous task execution. For businesses, this could redefine roles in data analysis, HR screening, and operational automation.

Early analysis suggests Manus combines fine-tuned versions of Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen models. However, users report challenges:

Early analysis suggests Manus combines fine-tuned versions of Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen models. However, users report challenges: