Manus

Manus is a general-purpose AI agent developed by Monica.im (later Butterfly Effect) that can autonomously browse the web, write and execute code, manage files, and complete complex multi-step tasks. Launched in early 2025, Manus distinguished itself by operating as a fully autonomous agent rather than a copilot—users describe a task in natural language and Manus executes it end-to-end without requiring step-by-step guidance.

Manus gained rapid attention for its ability to handle tasks like market research, travel planning, data analysis, and software prototyping in a single session. Its architecture uses a multi-agent approach with specialized sub-agents for different capabilities (browsing, coding, file management), coordinated by a planning layer that breaks complex tasks into executable steps.

In the Seven Layers of the Agentic Economy, Manus operates at Layer 1 (Agents)—the experience layer where users interact with autonomous systems that act on their behalf. It represents the emerging class of general-purpose agents that collapse multiple software tools into a single conversational interface.