In a co-working space in Shenzhen, a team of engineers tested Manus, an AI system unlike any before it. Launched on March 6, Manus is the world’s first fully autonomous AI agent, capable of making decisions and executing tasks without human oversight.
Unlike chatbots or search engines, it doesn’t just assist humans—it replaces them. From analyzing financial data to screening job candidates, Manus operates with unmatched speed and precision, eliminating inefficiencies caused by human hesitation. Its release has ignited discussions about AI’s future and its impact on industries and global power dynamics.
China’s ability to develop such a system has surprised many, especially given the perception that it lags behind the U.S. in foundational AI research. However, the country’s rapid progress became evident with the late 2024 release of DeepSeek V3, an AI model designed to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4.
The breakthrough came in January 2025 when China’s R1 reasoning model outperformed OpenAI’s GPT-o1 and GPT-o3, marking what experts called the country’s “Sputnik moment” in AI. Manus takes this advancement further, not as a language model but as an independent AI agent that thinks, plans and acts like a human intern—only without the limitations of fatigue or distractions.
Manus raises critical questions about the future of AI governance, ethics, and global competitiveness. While AI has traditionally functioned as an assistive tool, an autonomous system capable of making its own decisions represents a major shift.
Supporters argue that such AI can enhance productivity and efficiency, while critics worry about potential risks, including job displacement and security concerns. The global AI race is intensifying, and China’s leap with Manus signals a shift in innovation leadership. As the world grapples with its implications, the emergence of autonomous AI may redefine industries and reshape geopolitical power in ways that were once only imagined.
