Manus AI: This AI Works While You Sleep (And Better Than You)AI won’t replace you, but the person using Manus AI might replace your entire software budget.
Hey there, Seb here!
Happy Sunday—hope you had a great weekend!
We’ve hit another breakthrough. Seems like these are becoming a weekly occurrence now.
And this one? It could be HUGE. Think DeepSeek moment v2.
Imagine Deep Research + Operator + Computer Use + Lovable + Memory—all in one.
After a year of quiet development, Manus AI has emerged with what they’re boldly calling “the first general AI agent” – and unlike the typical AI hype cycle, this one has serious people talking. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Wilkinson described his experience as “absolutely insane… like I just time travelled six months into the future.”
Why this matters: While most AI tools require constant babysitting and specific prompts, Manus operates as a fully autonomous agent with its own virtual computer, working asynchronously in the cloud. It bridges the gap between “I need this done” and “here’s your finished product” with minimal human supervision.
What Makes Manus Different? (The 60-Second Breakdown)
Manus isn’t just another chatbot—it’s a complete shift in how we interact with AI:
- It works like a real assistant, not a chatbot
- Operates asynchronously in the cloud (works while you sleep)
- Maintains its own knowledge and memory
- Adapts to follow-up requests and learns your preferences over time
- It handles complex tasks end-to-end:
- Document processing: Can unzip files, analyze 20+ resumes, extract key info, and create organized summaries
- Multi-step research: Breaks down complex questions, researches across multiple sources, synthesizes findings
- Data analysis: Accesses APIs, performs sophisticated analysis, creates visualizations, and even deploys interactive websites
- It’s already solving real-world problems:
- Completing tasks on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
- Successfully competing in Kaggle competitions
- Building custom web apps that replace $6,000/year software solutions
The Bigger Picture
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s part of a major shift in AI development – Moving from prompt-based interactions to autonomous agents that maintain context across complex workflows
- The name has intellectual roots – “Manus” draws from MIT’s “Mens et Manus” (mind and hand), reflecting the philosophy that knowledge must be applied to create impact
- Parts will be open-sourced – The company revealed Manus operates as a multi-agent system with several distinct models, and they plan to release “Postering for Manus” later this year
- There’s a global race happening – The reported Chinese origin of Manus highlights the increasingly global competition to develop advanced AI agents (and yes, OpenAI and Anthropic are likely building similar technology)
What This Means For You
The emergence of tools like Manus raises important questions about the future of work and software:
- Will custom AI agents replace SaaS subscriptions? Wilkinson’s example of building a custom replacement for $6,000/year software suggests a potential disruption to the SaaS business model
- How will this change the job market? As AI becomes capable of completing complex professional tasks autonomously, which roles will be enhanced and which might be disrupted?
- What’s the timeline for mainstream adoption? While Manus is still in early preview, the pace of advancement suggests similar technologies could become widely available within months, not years
What We’re Watching Next
- We’ll be reaching out to the Manus team for an exclusive interview in our next edition
- Deep dive into the multi-agent architecture once technical details become available
- Comparison with other emerging agentic AI systems from leading labs
- How early adopters are using Manus to transform their workflows and businesses
The Bottom Line
Manus AI represents a significant evolution in artificial intelligence – from tools that require constant instruction to autonomous agents that can execute complex workflows with minimal oversight. Whether this proves to be “a glimpse into AGI” as its creators suggest remains to be seen, but the potential to transform how we work is undeniable.
Have you tried Manus or similar AI agents? Hit reply and share your experience – we’d love to feature your insights in our next edition.
Until next time, let’s keep building!
Seb
