Beijing’s new AI darling: Startup Manus gains traction
BEIJING, CHINA — Chinese artificial intelligence startup Manus gained attention as state media highlighted its registration and debut of its latest AI assistant.
This move is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to promote domestic AI enterprises capable of competing on the global stage, similar to the impact of China’s DeepSeek.
The state broadcaster CCTV spotlighted Manus, showcasing the capabilities of its AI agent over predecessors like DeepSeek and ChatGPT.
Manus AI: Less prompting, more action
Manus has recently captured the tech world’s imagination by claiming to develop the world’s first general AI agent that requires significantly less user input to perform tasks autonomously.
This innovation was first introduced a few weeks ago and quickly became a sensation on the social platform X.
The Beijing municipal government is now facilitating Manus’ expansion within China, mirroring the support previously shown to DeepSeek after its successful launch.
Strategic moves and regulatory milestones
In addition to public endorsements, Manus announced last week a partnership with Alibaba’s AI team, which could further enhance the rollout of its AI agent in China.
Moreover, the AI startup has achieved a key regulatory milestone with the completion of the necessary registration for its AI assistant, Monica. This approval is crucial as all generative AI applications in China must comply with strict regulations that prevent the generation of sensitive or harmful content.
As the company continues to navigate regulatory landscapes and expand its user base, the global tech community is keenly watching to see if Manus will indeed become the next major player in AI innovation.
