China's Butterfly Effect launches autonomous AI agent Manus

Chinese startup Butterfly Effect has introduced Manus, an AI agent that operates autonomously without needing constant human instructions. This marks a significant advancement in AI, as Manus is claimed to be the first general AI agent, differing from traditional chatbots. Currently, Manus is not publicly available, but select users have begun testing it. Early feedback indicates that while Manus can perform complex tasks like planning itineraries and analyzing data, it also faces issues such as crashes and misunderstandings. Manus uses a multi-agent architecture, allowing it to handle various tasks independently. This contrasts with typical chatbots, which require step-by-step guidance. The introduction of Manus raises new ethical questions about the capabilities and implications of more human-like AI agents.