The era of simply getting text summaries when you say "Summarize this" is over. Now is the age of 'Acting AI', or Agents, that directly create documents, write and deploy code, and analyze Excel files to draw charts. At the center of this stands Manus AI. Can it revolutionize our productivity? I'll dig deep into my personal experience with it, no holds barred.
What is Manus AI?: Evolution of Conversational AI
We've been accustomed to LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT or Claude. The method was asking questions and getting answers. However, Manus AI (https://manus.im/app) defines itself as a 'General Purpose Agent'.
What does this mean? Simply put, Manus is closer to your 'Digital Intern' than just a conversation partner. Beyond gathering the latest information via web browsing, it specializes in creating 'Completed Artifacts', such as writing reports based on collected data and saving them as PDFs, or drawing graphs visualizing data.
"Don't waste time on prompt engineering anymore. Just give Manus a Goal. The AI takes care of the process." â From Manus AI Introduction
Core Features Deep Dive: How is it Different from Chatbots?
I've summarized the key features I felt while using Manus AI intensely for a few days. The differences from existing chatbots are distinct.
1. Autonomous Web Research & Integration
While most AIs simply summarize web search results, Manus visits multiple sites, cross-verifies, and structures information like a human would. For example, if you ask "Write a 2025 AI Trend Report," it synthesizes major IT media articles, papers, and Twitter reactions into a single completed article.
2. Artifact Generation Capability
This is the most powerful part. Manus doesn't end in the chat window; it creates Files.
- Document Creation: Generates neat Word and PDF documents.
- Data Visualization: Throw it Excel data, and it analyzes insights and draws pretty charts.
- Coding & Deployment: Beyond writing simple web app code, it shows it in an executable form.
3. Handling Long-Horizon Tasks
Complex tasks don't end in a single turn. Manus establishes a step-by-step Plan and executes it one by one. Users can watch the progress in real-time and intervene or correct directions in the middle.
Key Takeaway
Manus AI's identity lies in 'Execution', not 'Conversation'. If you want to receive results in file format or automate complex research processes, it could be the best choice.
Manus vs. ChatGPT vs. Claude: Ultimate Comparison
I compared Manus with the current Big 3 AI (in my mind). Each tool has distinct strengths.
| Feature | Manus AI | ChatGPT (GPT-4o) | Claude 3.5 Sonnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Identity | Autonomous Execution Agent | Versatile Conversational AI | Reasoning & Coding Powerhouse |
| Web Search | âââââ (Deep Research) | ââââ (Fast Search) | âââ (Limited) |
| Output Generation | Docs, Charts, Apps (File-centric) | Text, Images (Canvas) | Code, Text (Artifacts) |
| Difficulty | Medium (Goal setting is key) | Low (Natural Language) | Medium (Prompting is key) |
| Recommended For | Researchers, Planners, PMs | General Users, Students | Developers, Writers |
In summary:
ChatGPT is still convenient for daily conversations or light questions. Claude is overwhelming for complex coding or long writing. However, Manus shines when performing Practical Tasks like "Make a draft of a market research report" or "Give me a competitor price comparison table in Excel".
Hands-on Review: Pros and Fatal Cons
No tool can be perfect. Here are the honest pros and cons I felt.
đ Pros
- Overwhelming Research Depth: It doesn't just look at the top 3 links; it digs deep. The fact that it clearly states the source of information builds trust.
- Convenience of Visualization: Give it data, and it suggests and draws appropriate charts (Bar, Pie, Line, etc.). It feels like an escape from Excel hell.
- Clean UI: It transparently shows what the agent is thinking and what tasks it performs in the sidebar. Waiting time is less boring.
đ Cons
- Speed Issues: Because it investigates deeply, it takes quite some time to get a single answer. It might be frustrating for impatient users. âł
- Hallucinations: They still exist. Especially when searching for non-English materials, it sometimes refers to irrelevant sites or brings old information as if it were the latest. Fact-checking is mandatory.
- Price: A fairly high subscription fee is expected after the beta period ends. (Currently waitlisting or limited free access)
Community Voices: Reactions from Reddit and X
How do overseas communities view Manus AI? I gathered reactions from Reddit's r/ArtificialIntelligence and X (Twitter).
"Manus is what I thought AutoGPT was going to be. It actually works without getting stuck in a loop."
- Reddit User u/AI_Enthusiast_2025
Many users evaluate that they found the 'practical utility' in Manus that AutoGPT failed to provide in the past. It received high scores for completing tasks without falling into a loop.
"The visualization feature is insane. I just uploaded a CSV and got a presentation-ready chart in 30 seconds. RIP my data analyst intern? (Just kidding)"
- X User @TechLeadDaily
There was also much praise for its visualization ability, threatening (?) data analyst interns. On the other hand, there were cool-headed evaluations saying, "For coding requiring complex reasoning, Claude 3.5 Sonnet is still a step ahead."
Conclusion: Is Manus Worth Subscribing?
In late 2025, we are living in a Warring States period of AI. Among them, Manus AI has certainly penetrated a niche market with the weapon of 'Action'.
If you spend half of your day on research, report writing, and data organization, Manus can be a savior. However, if your main tasks are creative writing or high-level system architecture design, I recommend using it in parallel with existing LLMs for now.
Gardenee's Verdict: â
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â (4.0/5.0)
"Gave excellent hands and feet (Agent) to a brain without them (LLM). But those hands and feet sometimes kick the air, so supervision is mandatory!"