Manus AI Agent: Behind the Viral Sensation, Controversy, and Future

Manus AI Agent: Behind the Viral Sensation, Controversy, and FutureOn March 6th, Manus, the world's first general-purpose AI agent developed by Chinese AI team Monica, exploded onto the tech scene. Its powerful capabilities and ability to independently complete complex tasks quickly overwhelmed its servers, causing the official website registration page to crash

Manus AI Agent: Behind the Viral Sensation, Controversy, and Future

On March 6th, Manus, the world's first general-purpose AI agent developed by Chinese AI team Monica, exploded onto the tech scene. Its powerful capabilities and ability to independently complete complex tasks quickly overwhelmed its servers, causing the official website registration page to crash. Invitation codes were even resold on secondary trading platforms for over 10,000 yuan. However, alongside its acclaim, Manus has faced significant controversy, culminating in the suspension of its official X account (@ManusAI_HQ) on March 7th, sparking widespread attention. This article delves into Manus's success, controversies, and the future trends of the AI agent sector it represents.

I. Manus: Overnight Fame and Controversy Coexist

Manus's emergence injected a shot of adrenaline into the previously stagnant AI field. Officially, Manus can independently think, plan, and execute complex tasks, delivering complete results. This groundbreaking capability quickly made it a focal point in the tech world, with countless users vying for access to its convenience and efficiency. However, this explosive popularity was accompanied by a wave of skepticism.

The resale of Manus invitation codes for over 10,000 yuan on secondary trading platforms fueled accusations of "hunger marketing." In response, Manus AI partner Zhang Tao clarified that the company had never established any paid channels for obtaining invitation codes, nor had it invested in any marketing budget. He explained that the limited system capacity during the internal testing phase prioritized the core experience of existing users, with access gradually being rolled out. Zhang Tao also frankly admitted that the current Manus is merely an "infant," with significant room for improvement in the user experience before its official release, citing areas needing work such as model hallucinations, output friendliness, and running speed.

Beyond "hunger marketing," Manus faced accusations of "shell-gaming." Some industry insiders analyzed that the Manus team doesn't independently develop large language models (LLMs), but rather leverages existing models to create packaged services. This "shell-gaming" strategy, they argue, is a key to its success. Manus founder Xiao Hong chose not to pursue self-developed LLMs, instead dynamically calling upon GPT-4, Claude 3, and other LLMs to enhance Manus's overall capabilities. This strategy reduced R&D costs and time, but also raised questions about its technological prowess.

Even more unexpectedly, Manus's official X account (@ManusAI_HQ) was suspended. Initial observations suggest the suspension may be linked to alleged cryptocurrency scams mentioned by third parties. Manus co-founder and chief scientist, Ji Yichao (YichaoPeakJi), issued an urgent statement clarifying that Manus has never participated in any cryptocurrency projects, token issuance, or blockchain initiatives. He stated that any cryptocurrency entity claiming affiliation with the company under a similar name is fraudulent, and Manus is taking legal action against these imposters.

II. Discussion of Technical Capabilities and Business Model

Manus's success is inextricably linked to its technical capabilities and business model. Its ability to independently complete complex tasks stems from its clever use and integration of existing LLMs. By dynamically calling upon multiple LLMs like GPT-4 and Claude 3, Manus effectively enhances its overall capabilities and provides users with a more convenient and efficient experience. This demonstrates the Manus team's strength in technology integration and application, offering a new development path for other AI startups.

However, this "shell-gaming" model also carries risks. Reliance on third-party LLMs means Manus's future development is constrained by the upgrades and iterations of those third-party models. Any changes to these LLMs could affect Manus's stability and functionality. Therefore, Manus needs to further strengthen its own R&D capabilities and reduce its reliance on third-party LLMs to ensure its long-term development.

From a business model perspective, Manus's gradual release of invitation codes created a sense of scarcity, enhancing the product's perceived value. However, this also led to accusations of "hunger marketing" and potential market risks. In the future, Manus needs to find a balancemeeting user demand while avoiding negative publicity.

III. Future Outlook for the AI Agent Sector

Manus's emergence reaffirms the accelerating growth of the AI agent sector. Numerous securities firms predict that 2025 will be the year of commercial application for AI agents. Kaiyuan Securities, for instance, suggests that AI agent applications will bloom in 2025, with B-end commercialization leading the way in sectors such as e-commerce, marketing, finance, and law. With continuous iteration of large models from domestic and international giants, killer apps for the C-end might also emerge.

Manus's successes and controversies provide valuable lessons for the future development of the AI agent sector. On one hand, it demonstrates the enormous market potential and commercial value of AI agents; on the other, it highlights the importance of technological innovation, user experience, and risk control alongside commercial success. The future will see fiercer competition in the AI agent sector, with only those companies possessing strong technical capabilities, excellent product experiences, and sound business models ultimately prevailing.

IV. Conclusion

The rise and controversy surrounding Manus encapsulate the development of the AI agent sector. It showcases the immense potential of AI technology while also exposing existing problems and challenges. In the future, AI agents will continue to revolutionize various industries, but balancing technological innovation, business models, and user experience will be a key challenge for all AI companies. Manus's experience provides valuable lessons for other AI companies and important insights for the future development of the entire AI agent sector. Only through continuous innovation and proactive response to challenges can companies go further in this sector full of opportunities and challenges. Manus's future, in turn, will significantly influence the direction of the entire AI agent sector.