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Manus AI: A Deep Dive and Comparison with Other AI Agents

Last Updated

May 30, 2025

By

Rishav Hada

Time to read

8 mins

Manus AI comparison with ChatGPT & Claude

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Introduction

Imagine assigning a task to an AI agent and watching it complete every step - browsing, coding, analyzing, even deploying, without you lifting another finger. That’s Manus AI.

Developed by the Chinese firm Monica, Manus AI is being hailed as the first general-purpose autonomous AI agent. Its exceptional quality is that Manus AI actually acts, unlike chatbots like ChatGPT, which respond.

Manus follows multi-stage directions end-to-end from market research to website building. With more than 2 million people on its waitlist, it's not only hype; it's a change in how we create with artificial intelligence.


  1. Why is it Different from Traditional AI Models?

Conventional models like ChatGPT mostly aim to produce text. Manus AI reaches farther. It integrates knowledge with practical application.

Here’s how it works:

  • Multi-agent architecture: Different agents handle different phases - planning, execution, validation.

  • High-context reasoning: Thanks to Anthropic's Claude 3.7, Manus handles large instructions concurrently.

  • Sandboxed environment: It runs on Linux inside its own cloud, with Python, browser, terminal, file system access.


  1. Why are Developers and Engineers Buzzing About It?

  • It displays openness in real time.

  • It divides difficult chores into reasonable steps.

  • It does them not sequentially but concurrently.

  • It even provides audit or debugging replay choices.

This is why many call it a “ChatGPT Operator killer.”


  1. How Does Manus AI Actually Work?

4.1 How Does Its Multi-Agent Framework Boost Efficiency?

Manus breaks out chores into pieces. While sub-agents manage search, code running, API calls, and validations, a central executor agent supervises operations.

For example, if you ask Manus to “generate a Tesla stock analysis,” it will:

  1. Browse finance websites.

  2. Extract and analyze data using Python.

  3. Generate a visual report.

  4. Publish it as a webpage.

All this happens automatically.

4.2 How Does It Prevent Mistakes?

Every sub-agent forward the executor just the most pertinent information. This guarantees better focus and helps to prevent context overflow.

Manus also incorporates execution transparency, that is, real-time monitoring, where users may view every action the AI takes.


  1. What Makes Manus AI So Powerful in Real-World Tasks?

5.1 What Are Some Notable Benchmarks It Has Achieved?

Designed for assessing general-purpose AI assistants, Manus AI topped every level on the GAIA benchmark, including the toughest Level 3 challenges.

GAIA benchmark bar chart: Manus AI autonomous AI agent tops OpenAI Deep Research, previous SOTA across Levels 1-3 pass@1.

Figure 1: GAIA Benchmark: Source

5.2 What Are Some Use Cases That Stand Out?

  • Game Dev: Built a 3D endless runner game with One command using Three.js.

  • Web Dev: Replaced Apple's homepage design in a few minutes.

  • Finance: Presented a comprehensive dashboard including a Tesla stock analysis.

  • Research: Compiled thorough studies on climate change and markets.

These aren’t toy tasks. They represent hours of work done by humans, reduced to minutes by Manus.


  1. How Does Manus AI Compare With Other AI Agents?

Features

Manus AI

Open AI Deep research

Open AI operator

Claude Computer Use

Browser Use

Model & Tech

A multi-agent design is used combined with Anthropic's Claude model. Uses built-in tools in a sandbox environment.

Built on GPT-4 with sophisticated reasoning for research purposes. Mostly about in-depth research.

GPT-4 is executed in an autonomous manner, with browsing and restricted code support.

It uses Anthropic's Claude model in a way that takes care of code and computer chores.

Depends on the search tools that are integrated into the web browser and are included in chat applications.

Task Autonomy

Executes multistep tasks from start to end.   Works on tasks that require multiple actions.

Focuses on the development of long-form analysis and in-depth research. Manages iterative tasks but could require assistance at each stage.

It is most effective when used for tasks that are easy or moderate. It experiences difficulty with lengthy sequences of actions in the absence of user assistance.

Focus on the execution of code and the calculation of values. Manages tasks that require quick computations.

Provides actual search results and data from the web. Does not independently combine multiple actions.

Tool Integration

It works with an online browser, a code editor, a file system, and other things. 

You can run code and use research tools, but it's not as clear how they work together. It functions primarily within a single conversation thread.

Provides a browser and coding tool within a conversation, although the connection between actions is less well-managed.

Provides access to a file system and code interpreter within a messaging interface.

Browser-only utility. It does not execute code or manage files.

Table 1: Manus AI Vs Other AI Agents

What’s the Verdict?

  • Manus = All-in-One Autonomous Agent

  • ChatGPT Operator = Fast but shallow

  • Claude = Smart but constrained

  • Browser agents = Basic searchers

Manus bridges thinking and doing, and that makes all the difference.


  1. What Are the Strengths and Limitations of Manus AI?

Strengths

  • Handles complex tasks end-to-end.

  • Breaks down large goals into smaller tasks.

  • Navigates the web like a human - clicks buttons, fills forms.

  • Outputs not just text, but working websites, reports, games, and dashboards.

Limitations

  • Tasks may take time (15–20 mins for complex ones).

  • Occasionally gets stuck and needs restarting.

  • Currently runs only on Claude 3.7 (no GPT-4 fallback).

  • Doesn’t offer an SDK for extending integrations.

Still, its limitations are far outweighed by the value it brings in productivity.


  1. What’s Next for AI Developers After Manus AI?

How Can You Start Using It?

  • Manus is currently in invite-only beta.

  • To access it, join the waitlist at the official website.

  • Early testers include engineers, data scientists, and indie developers.

How Can You Get Even More from These AI Tools?

Manus is great. But if you’re comparing AI agents like this, try Future AGI’s Compare Data feature. It helps you benchmark, evaluate, and iterate faster.

From model evaluation to synthetic data generation, Future AGI gives you the edge.


Conclusion

Manus AI is not just another chatbot. It’s a full-stack executor.

Manus transforms our interactions with artificial intelligence by tying intelligent reasoning via LLMs with real-world action through agents and tools.

Not flawless. However, Manus AI is a significant advancement in the development of autonomous artificial intelligence in a society when efficiency rules everything.

Are you building next-gen LLMs like Manus AI? Visit Future AGI today and explore its LLM Dev Hub which helps you create reliable, production-ready models faster and easier.

FAQs

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Rishav Hada is an Applied Scientist at Future AGI, specializing in AI evaluation and observability. Previously at Microsoft Research, he built frameworks for generative AI evaluation and multilingual language technologies. His research, funded by Twitter and Meta, has been published in top AI conferences and earned the Best Paper Award at FAccT’24.

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