Imagine this: it’s 2 a.m. on March 6, 2025, and tech enthusiasts worldwide are glued to their screens, not for Apple’s latest gadget reveal, but to snag an elusive invitation code for Manus AI. Launched by Chinese startup Monica, this self-proclaimed “world’s first truly general AI agent” has ignited a digital gold rush. Codes are swapping hands on Xianyu for anywhere from 999 yuan ($137) to a jaw-dropping 100,000 yuan ($13,797), and a demo video has racked up over 370,000 views on X in just 20 hours. What’s driving this frenzy? A mix of mind-blowing multitasking and a tantalizing promise of free—or at least cheap—AI power that’s got everyone buzzing.
The hook is pure sci-fi spectacle. In one demo, Manus AI controls 50 screens at once—scrolling X feeds, checking WhatsApp, researching New York real estate—all in a synchronized dance that’s equal parts mesmerizing and mildly terrifying. It’s not just a chatbot spitting out text; it’s a digital maestro conducting a symphony of tasks. Picture it: one screen books a Japan trip with proposal ideas, another crunches Tesla stock data, while a third optimizes a website’s SEO. This isn’t your average AI assistant—it’s a productivity beast that’s got users rethinking what machines can do.
Practicality seals the deal. A YouTuber, shelling out $200 a month for Chat GPT Operator, gushed over Manus’s speed and smarts, calling it a “game-changer.” In a side-by-side test, Manus whipped up a 7-day Japan itinerary—complete with screenshots and downloadable files—while Chat GPT Operator lagged, stuck on a single site with no file output. Need a Tesla stock report? Manus delivers a deep dive with charts. Hiring? It unzips resumes and screens candidates like a tireless intern. Unlike competitors, it browses the web, takes screenshots, and creates files directly, leaving users awestruck at its real-world chops.
The reception? Pure chaos—in the best way. X is flooded with pleas for codes, Discord channels with 6,000 members buzz with demo clips, and Weibo’s racked up 27.8 million reads on “Manus’ founder being a post-90s entrepreneur.” The catch? It’s invite-only, and Monica’s small team can’t keep up. Partner Zhang Tao took to X, begging for patience as servers groan under demand: “We’re a few dozen people working overnight—give us a break!” Codes drop daily, but they’re gone in minutes, leaving hopefuls to scour secondary markets or beg on social media. One X user even pitched a solar-powered home design task, and Monica’s team delivered—a flex of both tech and goodwill.
Key Features of Manus AI:
- Autonomous Decision-Making: Unlike standard AI chatbots, Manus executes tasks on its own instead of just providing recommendations.
- High Performance: It outperformed OpenAI’s models in GAIA benchmark tests, achieving higher accuracy at all difficulty levels.
- Commercial Potential: Due to its capabilities, invite codes for the beta version are being resold for as much as $13,900 (RMB 100,000) in secondary markets.
- Growing Competition: The launch of Manus reflects China’s increasing focus on AI agents, competing with models like DeepSeek and OpenAI’s enterprise-grade AI agent.
Currently, Manus AI is available through an invite-only beta, with no confirmed release date for the general public. It represents a shift toward AI solutions that can handle complex, multi-step workflows independently.
Contrast this with OpenAI’s move on the same day: $20,000/month AI agents for enterprises. Manus, though, hints at a freer future. No pricing’s set, but whispers of a free or low-cost model have fans salivating—especially when it’s outpacing OpenAI’s DeepResearch on the GAIA benchmark, a test of real-world problem-solving. Here’s how it stacks up:
| Feature | Manus AI | Chat GPT Operator | Perplexity.ai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Browsing | Yes, with screenshots | Yes, but slow and glitchy | No, basic search only |
| File Creation | Yes, direct downloads | No | No |
| Task Speed | Fast (per demos) | Slower, often stalls | Quick but limited scope |
| GAIA Benchmark | SOTA across all levels | Not specified | Not specified |
| Cost | Possibly free/cheap | $200/month (Pro) | Free tier available |
Manus’s edge is clear: it’s fast, hands-on, and versatile. But the exclusivity? That’s the kicker. With a team dwarfed by tech titans, Monica’s playing a high-stakes game—tease the world, then deliver. Plans to open-source parts of the model later in 2025 could crack it wide open, but for now, it’s a coveted mystery. Is Manus the future of AI everyone’s chasing, or a fleeting hype bubble? As one X user put it, “China’s dropping bangers while I’m refreshing for a code.” The world’s watching—and waiting.
