China’s Manus releases the world’s first autonomous general AI agent
Increasingly out technology is moving from automated to autonomous, but Manus isn't the first ...
Key takeaways
- Built by Chinese firm Butterfly Effect, Manus is also reportedly capable of outperforming the most advanced AI models from ChatGPT creator OpenAI.
- Where other AI stops at generating ideas, Manus delivers results.
- A viral video demo of the technology has added to the hype surrounding Manus, leading to invitation codes reportedly selling for thousands of pounds on Chinese marketplace Xianyu.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2025) 'China’s Manus releases the world’s first autonomous general AI agent', 311 Institute, 22 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/chinas-manus-releases-the-worlds-first-autonomous-general-ai-agent/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers in China claim to have made a major breakthrough after developing the “world’s first fully autonomous AI agent,” although that honour could also tentatively be given to AutoGPT and Devin, two autonomous Agentic AI software developers I talked about a long time ago …
Named Manus, the general-purpose AI is capable of carrying out a vast range of tasks, including buying property, booking holidays and developing video games.
Built by Chinese firm Butterfly Effect, Manus is also reportedly capable of outperforming the most advanced AI models from ChatGPT creator OpenAI.
The Future of Agentic AI, by top AI Speaker Matthew Griffin
“[Manus] is the next evolution in AI,” Yichao Ji, co-founder and chief scientist of Manus AI, said in a video demonstrating the AI’s abilities. “This isn’t just another chatbot or workflow, it’s a truly autonomous agent that bridges the gap between conception and execution. Where other AI stops at generating ideas, Manus delivers results.
“We see it as the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).”
See Manus in action.
The AI has drawn praise from tech industry figures, with AI policy researcher Dean Ball calling it the “most sophisticated computer using AI.”
Victor Mustar, head of product at AI platform Hugging Face, who’s community is trying to reverse engineer the last Chinese AI breakthrough DeepSeek R1, described Manus as “mind-blowing” in its capabilities.
“Got access and it’s true... Manus is the most impressive AI tool I’ve ever tried,” he wrote on X. “The user experience is what so many others promised... but this time it just works.”
The AI is not yet widely available, with hopeful users requiring an invite code from existing users to gain access.
A viral video demo of the technology has added to the hype surrounding Manus, leading to invitation codes reportedly selling for thousands of pounds on Chinese marketplace Xianyu. While some have feared that its abilities could pose a significant threat to human workers, others who have tested it claim that it still has significant flaws that need to be addressed before a wider roll out.
Some early users complained about errors with Manus, such as making mistakes about factual information and not providing complete answers to questions.
What this means for your organisation
AI moves from ideas to action.
Manus aims to deliver results, not just suggestions. Agents that book, buy and build can take on whole workflows. Leaders should identify end-to-end tasks that could be handed to agents first.
China is a serious agent competitor.
Manus follows DeepSeek as another Chinese AI breakthrough to win attention. Capability is no longer concentrated in a few US labs. Firms should watch suppliers from both regions and the rules each will face.
Errors still limit trust.
Early users reported wrong facts and partial answers. An agent that acts on mistakes can do more harm than a chatbot that only talks. Keep a human approval step for any agent action that spends money or makes commitments.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which whole tasks could we safely hand to an AI agent?
- What approval steps do agents need before spending money for us?
- How would we assess agent suppliers from China against US rivals?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Increasingly out technology is moving from automated to autonomous, but Manus isn't the first ...
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 22 March 2025. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2025). China’s Manus releases the world’s first autonomous general AI agent. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/chinas-manus-releases-the-worlds-first-autonomous-general-ai-agent/
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