A new agentic AI system called Manus, developed by a Chinese startup, is rapidly gaining attention, drawing comparisons to the initial buzz surrounding DeepSeek. The AI agent is currently in a closed beta phase, with access granted through limited invitations.
Invite codes are being listed on reseller platforms, with prices varying significantly. On the Chinese reseller site Goofish (also known as Xianyu), listings range from incredibly low prices, equivalent to about one USD, to several thousand dollars. The interest in Manus has even extended to eBay, where a listing for an email and password to access Manus AI has a starting price of $1,000.
The closed beta status means that the public cannot use Manus without a code from someone who is a current user. Searching “Manus” on Goofish yields numerous listings, indicating the high demand for access. It is unclear how many of the codes, especially the higher-priced ones, are actually being sold. However, their presence highlights the increasing global interest in the AI’s capabilities.
Early users have shared varying opinions, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Deepseek. The company behind Manus, The Butterfly Effect, claims the AI can perform various real-world tasks, from analyzing stocks to developing minigames and screenplays.
“This isn’t just another chatbot or workflow. It’s a truly autonomous agent that bridges the gap between conception and execution,” said Yichao “Peak” Ji, the cofounder of Manus, in a YouTube video that announced the AI. Ji also detailed how the program has demonstrated its ability to solve real-world problems on gig-work platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork, as well as through Kaggle Competitions.
Manus’ developers aim to position it as a competitor to other ‘chain-of-thought’ offerings, like ChatGPT’s “Deep Research” and Claude’s “Extended Thinking” mode.
“We see it as the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration, and potentially a glimpse into AGI,” Ji stated.
