Chinese startup Butterfly Effect’s AI agent Manus has achieved state-of-the-art performance in autonomous task execution, positioning itself as a potential milestone in AGI development. However, its rapid rise faces scrutiny over limited accessibility, server constraints, and skepticism about its marketing and technological readiness.
Butterfly Effect Launches Manus AI Agent – Key Points
Launch and Viral Reception:
Manus was previewed on March 5, 2025, and garnered 370,000+ views on X (Twitter) within 20 hours. Limited access via invitation codes led to codes being resold for 999–50,000 yuan ($137–$6,900) on Chinese platforms like Xianyu, with critics accusing the team of scarcity marketing tactics.
Technical Superiority:
Manus achieved SOTA results on the GAIA benchmark (evaluating real-world problem-solving) across all difficulty tiers, outperforming leading models like ChatGPT and Gemini. Testing used the same configuration as the production version for reproducibility.
- The team plans to open-source the models powering Manus later in 2024, enhancing transparency and community collaboration.
Core Functionality:
The AI agent autonomously handles complex tasks (e.g., trip planning, stock analysis, resume screening, and property research) by integrating thought and action, inspired by the Latin motto “Mens et Manus” (“Mind and Hand”).
- Operates on an independent computer instance, enabling skills like web browsing, coding, visual creation, and task execution on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
Team and Vision:
The co-founders of Butterfly Effect are Xiao Hong (CEO) and Zhang Tao, with Peak Ji as chief scientist.
Funding: The startup raised capital from Tencent Holdings, ZhenFund, and HongShan Capital Group.
Co-founder Ji Yichao, chief scientist of Butterfly Effect, has framed Manus as “the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into AGI” (The Star). The team, led by Xiao Hong (co-founder and CEO), comprises several dozen employees (Vietnam Express).
Public Response and Challenges:
- A Weibo topic on Manus’ “post-90s founder” trended with 27.8 million views and 5,800+ comments. Server limitations prompted an invitation-only rollout, with partner Zhang Tao admitting the team underestimated public demand and calling the current version “still in its infancy.”
- The Manus team’s X account was suspended on March 8, 2023, for violating platform rules. Ji Yichao stated the suspension might be linked to cryptocurrency scams by third parties exploiting Manus’ popularity.
Market Skepticism:
Despite comparisons to DeepSeek’s breakthroughs, limited user testing and server instability have fueled doubts about Manus’ capabilities. Investors and analysts question whether its claims can withstand real-world scrutiny.
Why This Matters
Manus highlights China’s ambition to lead in AGI innovation, but its challenges—server scalability, marketing transparency, and third-party exploitation—underscore the complexities of deploying cutting-edge AI. The project’s trajectory will test whether autonomous agents can transition from hype to reliable tools, balancing ethical oversight with rapid development.
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