China launches autonomous AI agent Manus: To be welcomed or feared?

Image: © AFP

A new AI agent named Manus, developed in China, is gaining attention for its autonomous capabilities in tasks like resume sorting and stock analysis, sparking both interest and concerns over data privacy and AI competition with the U.S.

Manus AI says on its website that it was named after the Latin word for hand and is “a general AI agent that turns your thoughts into actions”.

To learn more about this software Digital Journal asked Mel Morris, CEO of Corpora.ai about Manus and its impact on the AI industry at large.

According to Morris there are indeed issues to be mindful about: “Manus’ demonstrations showcase the potential of Agentic AI as a significant step forward. However, granting autonomous AI agents like Manus the ability to perform independent actions raises serious concerns.”

Agentic AI uses sophisticated reasoning and iterative planning to autonomously solve complex, multi-step problems.

Citing examples, Morris explains: “We have already witnessed numerous examples of generative AI and so-called reasoning models producing flawed outputs. If given autonomy over high-stakes tasks—such as buying and selling stocks—such imperfections could lead to chaos. The ability to compare stock fundamentals and trading activity in minutes is vastly different from successfully navigating the complexities of the market.”

Morris also notes the technological development: “Agentic AI represents a major advancement. AI’s ability to design, construct, and execute code dramatically expands its capabilities. Notably, research into DeepSeek R1 suggests that it can reason simultaneously in both English and Chinese.”

This sends signals about the future of AI: “This raises the possibility that AI models could develop their own, humanly indecipherable language—justified by potential performance gains but fundamentally limiting human oversight. This prospect is both fascinating and alarming.”

Will these changes be a force for good? Much depends, as Morris points out: “There are still many uncharted aspects of AI and autonomous agents, particularly the risks of independent reasoning in an undisclosed language. Vigilance in deployment, instrumentation, and monitoring is critical. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in these areas, which must be urgently addressed.”

This means: “We need to understand what our AI agents are doing, how they reach their conclusions, and establish mechanisms for oversight or intervention.”

Overall, various forms of AI relate to similar discussions and concerns, which Morris summarises as: “While Manus presents intriguing capabilities, it is not a revolutionary leap beyond existing AI models like Gemini or OpenAI’s research offerings. The same concerns about data privacy and exposure to cloud servers persist, compounded by concerns over Manus’ ties to China. These factors will only intensify the ongoing debate over AI security and governance.”