What Is Manus AI? The Autonomous Agent Transforming Task Execution
Manus AI operates as a general-purpose autonomous agent designed to handle complex tasks independently, going beyond simple responses to deliver complete results.
Users provide natural language instructions, and the system plans, executes, and verifies actions across various domains such as research, data analysis, and automation.
This setup allows tasks to run asynchronously, with notifications sent upon completion, even if the user logs off.
Background and Development
Butterfly Effect Technology, a Singapore-based startup, created Manus AI under the leadership of founder Xiao Hong.
Xiao previously built Nightingale Technology in 2015, which produced AI productivity tools serving millions of users and drew investments from Tencent and ZhenFund.
In 2022, Butterfly Effect launched Monica, an AI browser extension that integrated models like ChatGPT and Claude, amassing over 10 million users by 2024 and laying the groundwork for Manus.
The agent debuted on March 6, 2025, following an announcement on X, quickly gaining traction with a demonstration video that led to over two million waitlist signups and a rapidly growing Discord community of more than 138,000 members.
Early funding included $75 million in April 2025 at a $500 million valuation, led by Benchmark, despite U.S. regulatory reviews tied to restrictions on investments in Chinese AI firms.
Butterfly Effect incorporated Manus in the Cayman Islands to navigate these issues.
Core Capabilities and Features
Manus AI stands out through its ability to manage multi-step processes without constant oversight.
Key features include:
- Research and Analysis: It gathers data from multiple sources, synthesizes findings, and produces reports with citations.
- Data Processing: Handles datasets in formats like Excel or CSV, generates visualizations, and builds dashboards.
- Web Automation: Navigates websites, extracts information, fills forms, and performs actions like bookings or purchases.
- Content Creation: Drafts articles, presentations, emails, and social media posts in specified styles.
- Code Development: Writes, tests, and deploys Python code for technical solutions.
- File Management: Processes PDFs, images, and documents for extraction, editing, or translation while maintaining format and tone.
Additional tools cover image editing, calendar automation, resume building, and integrations with email or Slack.
The system supports mobile and Windows apps, along with team plans for collaborative use.
Technology Behind Manus
At its core, Manus employs a multi-agent architecture to achieve autonomy.
Specialized agents work together: a Planner Agent outlines steps, an Execution Agent interacts with browsers and tools, a Knowledge Agent retrieves and contextualizes information, and a Verification Agent checks for accuracy.
The system relies on Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet as the main model, with upgrades to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, alongside fine-tuned versions of Alibaba's Qwen models.
It selects models dynamically for tasks and incorporates 29 tools, including open-source Browser Use software for web interactions.
This design manages context efficiently, reduces errors, and enables parallel processing in a secure, cloud-based environment.
Benchmark Performance
Manus has demonstrated strong results on the GAIA benchmark, which assesses reasoning, multi-modality, web browsing, and tool usage for real-world problem-solving.
Company-reported scores position it ahead of competitors:
| Level | Manus Score | OpenAI Deep Research | Human Average | GPT-4 with Plugins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Basic) | 86.5% | 74.3% | 92% | ~15% |
| Level 2 (Intermediate) | 70.1% | 69.1% | 92% | ~15% |
| Level 3 (Complex) | 57.7% | 47.6% | 92% | ~15% |
These outcomes highlight its edge in handling progressively challenging tasks.
Recent Acquisition by Meta
On December 29, 2025, Meta Platforms acquired Manus in a deal valued between $2 billion and $3 billion.
This move aims to integrate the agent's capabilities into Meta's ecosystem, including Meta AI, WhatsApp, and other platforms, to enhance features like automated trip planning or business workflows.
The acquisition builds on Manus's partnerships, such as with Alibaba's Qwen team, and aligns with Meta's investments in AI infrastructure.
It also reflects broader industry competition, positioning Meta to advance consumer and enterprise AI applications.
Practical Use Cases
Manus applies to diverse scenarios, from professional to personal needs.
- For business, it automates market research, financial modeling, or resume screening.
- In education, it synthesizes academic papers or creates study materials.
- Everyday users benefit from travel itineraries, shopping assistance, or document translations.
Examples include generating a five-slide presentation on AI industry trends, building a personal website from scratch, or analyzing spreadsheets for insights.
Its asynchronous nature suits time-intensive tasks, making it a tool for efficiency in work and daily life.
