One recent evening in Shenzhen, a group of software engineers gathered in a dimly lit co-working space, furiously typing as they monitored the performance of a new AI system. The air was electric, thick with the hum of servers and the glow of high-resolution monitors. They were testing Manus, a revolutionary AI agent capable of independent thought and action. Within hours, its March 6 launch would send shockwaves through the global AI community, reigniting a debate that had simmered for decades: What happens when artificial intelligence stops asking for permission and starts making its own decisions? Manus is not just another chatbot, nor is it merely an improved search engine dressed in futuristic branding. It is the world’s first fully autonomous AI agent, a system that doesn’t just assist humans — it replaces them. From analyzing financial transactions to screening job candidates, Manus navigates the digital world without oversight, making decisions with a speed and precision that even the most seasoned professionals struggle to match. In essence, it is a digital polymath trained to manage tasks across industries without the inefficiencies of human hesitation. But how did China, often perceived as trailing the U.S. in foundational AI research, produce something that Silicon Valley had only theorized about? And more importantly, what does it mean for the balance of power in artificial intelligence?

Full commentary : A look at Manus, which its Chinese creators claim is the world’s first fully autonomous AI agent, as some say it might be China’s second DeepSeek moment.