TLDR: Chinese AI agent Manus, developed by Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology Co. Ltd., has rapidly ascended to global prominence since its March 2025 launch. Hailed for its autonomous task execution capabilities, Manus is seen as a significant player in the burgeoning AI agent market, prompting its developer to strategically focus on overseas markets. While the original prompt mentioned ‘Jing Kun’ and a ‘Global Carnival’ on July 24, 2025, detailed information on ‘Jing Kun’ and a specific event of that name and date was not found in extensive searches, though the term ‘carnival’ aptly describes the widespread global attention Chinese AI agents are currently receiving.
The artificial intelligence landscape is witnessing a transformative period, with 2025 widely recognized as the ‘Year of AI Agents.’ At the forefront of this revolution is Manus, a highly advanced general-purpose AI agent originating from China, which has garnered significant global attention since its debut. Developed by Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology Co. Ltd., also associated with Monica.im, Manus was officially launched on March 6, 2025.
Manus distinguishes itself through its remarkable autonomous capabilities. It is designed to think, plan, and execute complex real-world tasks without human oversight. Its functionalities span a wide array of applications, from filtering resumes and analyzing stocks to crafting websites, planning trips, and generating comprehensive reports. This level of autonomy allows Manus to take complete responsibility for tasks from inception to completion, a significant leap beyond traditional AI chatbots that primarily offer assistance or answers.
Technologically, Manus is built upon existing large language models, specifically leveraging Anthropic’s Claude and Alibaba’s Qwen models. Its operational prowess is further enhanced by integrated web browsing and command-line tools. Notably, Manus predominantly operates by executing Python code to complete diverse tasks, an approach inspired by the 2024 CodeAct research project, which enables agents to dynamically adjust actions based on observations through a Python interpreter.
The reception to Manus has been overwhelmingly positive, drawing comparisons to other groundbreaking AI developments like DeepSeek. Industry observers view Manus as a substantial win for China in the global AI race, reinforcing concerns among Western developers about Beijing’s accelerating pace in AI innovation. Its rapid rise to prominence has been fueled by clever marketing, including scarce invite codes and influencer-driven promotion, leading to a ‘viral’ spread of its capabilities.
In a strategic move to capitalize on global demand and navigate the complex U.S.-China tech landscape, Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology Co. Ltd. has relocated its headquarters to Singapore, prioritizing overseas markets. Currently, Manus is primarily available to international users via an invitation-only web preview, with plans to open-source the AI model in the future. While a Chinese version in partnership with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. was announced, further details on this collaboration remain unconfirmed.
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While the initial news summary mentioned ‘Jing Kun’ alongside Manus and a ‘Global Carnival’ on July 24, 2025, extensive research did not yield specific information regarding an AI agent named ‘Jing Kun’ or a distinct ‘Global Carnival’ event on that precise date. However, the term ‘carnival’ aptly encapsulates the current widespread excitement and global focus on the rapid advancements and entrepreneurial fervor surrounding Chinese AI agents, with Manus being a prime example of this burgeoning trend.
