What If AI’s Potential is Limited by Us? How Manus AI Agent Reveals a New Frontier
While Manus hasn't generated the same mainstream buzz as its counterparts, its significance lies in how it leverages existing AI models—particularly Sonnet 3.7—rather than entirely reinventing AI technology. Here’s why executives should take notice.
Beyond the Hype: Why Manus is Different than Other AI Agents
Manus vividly demonstrates that AI itself isn't the primary limitation—instead, it’s human creativity in how we apply these tools. Manus agents uniquely stand out by integrating multiple functionalities, including deep research, coding, and operational tasks, into a seamless, user-friendly experience designed specifically to enhance user interaction and practical usability. Unlike other AI agents that may specialize narrowly or require technical expertise to utilize fully, Manus makes advanced AI accessible to non-technical users, offering broad applicability and ease of use as a key differentiator. By doing so, Manus challenges businesses to reimagine how effectively AI can be harnessed.
Watch for a 14min demo of me using Manus for the 1st time.
— Mckay Wrigley (@mckaywrigley) March 9, 2025
It’s *shockingly* good.
Now imagine this in 2-3 years when:
- it has >180 IQ
- never stops working
- is 10x faster
- and runs in swarms by the 1000s
AGI is coming - expect rapid progress. pic.twitter.com/gaAUZqk8Pl
Unlocking AI's True Capabilities
The real innovation Manus introduces is the creative and strategic application of existing AI models like Sonnet 3.7. It demonstrates that the full potential of AI lies not merely in new algorithms, but in how human imagination can amplify the usefulness of existing technologies.
Demystifying the Power of Wrappers
Contrary to misconceptions that wrappers are mere shortcuts, tools like Manus highlight a critical opportunity: rather than building AI models from the ground up, businesses can strategically employ wrappers to enhance the user experience, enrich information delivery, and create additional knowledge, training, or experiences layered atop existing AI foundations. This approach democratizes access to advanced AI capabilities, making sophisticated technology accessible and impactful for a wider range of organizations.
How Users Are Reacting
Early feedback from users underscores Manus’s remarkable impact:
Hugging Face’s Victor Mustar described Manus as “the most impressive AI tool [he’s] ever tried.”
Builder Mckay Wrigley praised Manus as “shockingly good” and documented his experience in a widely-shared 15-minute video.
Remarkably, programmers have even begun using Manus to build an "open-source alternative" of itself, highlighting the profound adaptability and potential of this new technology.
Not All Positive - Concerns Around Security
Despite its promising capabilities, Manus raises significant concerns. Radford Levy from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business has cautioned about the platform's lack of transparency regarding its underlying capabilities and potential data security risks, particularly given China’s National Intelligence Law implications. Additionally, the autonomous nature of Manus heightens worries around data privacy and security. Operating primarily in cloud environments and accessing diverse online resources without continuous user supervision could expose users to unintended privacy breaches or data misuse.
Preparing for the Next Wave
While Manus is currently in a private beta phase, with access limited to invitation-only we do see that this will only continue to pressure a more rapid release of models.
In the coming months, the rise of AI agents like Manus will likely trigger another wave of releases from Frontier Labs in the U.S., similar to the phenomenon witnessed with DeepSeek. Executives should prepare for this surge, understanding that Manus and its counterparts represent not isolated innovations but indicators of an accelerating trend in AI development.
