The company offers a subscription model that costs the same as OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro. However, its features don’t seem particularly groundbreaking.
Some have referred to China’s new AI model Manus as the second “DeepSeek moment” in the country’s AI. Manus quickly gained popularity for its ability to conduct in-depth analysis by searching for sources of information. The model can also synthesize clear, detailed answers to any question. It directly competes with OpenAI’s Deep Research mode. Initially available for free, Manus creators have now decided to market this product on a larger scale, introducing subscription plans.
Manus. Although its developers describe Manus as an AI agent, it’s fundamentally designed to provide more thoughtful responses after performing a thorough analysis of several information sources. While it automates this process, it operates similarly to other AI agents, such as OpenAI’s Deep Research mode and those offered by Claude and Gemini. Manus’ performance is competitive with these services. It was originally available (by invitation) at no cost. However, that’s changed.
Expensive subscriptions. Manus Starter is the basic version and provides access to its features with 3,900 credits. It costs $39. Meanwhile, Manus Pro includes even fewer limits (19,900 credits) for using the model’s deep research features. It’s priced at $199 per month. Given that the service has just launched, these prices are certainly aggressive and somewhat controversial.
A warning. Manus’ pricing strategy is surprising for several reasons. First, the company has minimal market penetration and is virtually unknown to the general public. Charging $200 a month right out of the gate seems too optimistic. Moreover, this decision might signal a troubling trend in the AI industry. It could set a precedent for future subscription models where AI companies demand significant fees for services that competitors offer without a clear differentiating factor.
Virality is compromised. In the past, companies such as Google and Facebook went viral with massive free products that were monetized through advertising. However, AI seems to be shifting toward a freemium model, meaning basic features are accessible for free, but full access requires a subscription. This shift is driven by a fundamental reason.
Generative AI is expensive. Each query made to AI chatbots incurs significantly higher costs compared to traditional search engines. Training these models is also extraordinarily costly. For instance, training GPT-4 was estimated to have cost around $100 million. As a result, AI companies recognize the need to recoup their investments through increasingly expensive subscription plans.
Subscriptions for everything. During the so-called Google era, users didn’t pay for products. Instead, they became the product. However, paid subscriptions have gradually gained traction with the rise of content streaming. Now, paying for the services you use is common. AI aims to capitalize on this trend. The challenge is that there must be distinguishing features to choose one paid service over another. Manus faces a particularly tough challenge because it competes against well-established models that users perceive as more trustworthy.
Lacking a proprietary model. Manus functions as a wrapper–a platform built on the capabilities of other AI models, such as Anthropic’s Claude and Alibaba’s Qwen. It doesn’t stand on its own. Its creators don’t seem to have their own model. Even if they do, they’re unlikely to invest the necessary time, money, resources, and talent to make their models truly exceptional.
Intense competition. Manus is up against industry giants, just like Anthropic’s chatbot Claude. Despite their innovative capabilities, they don’t have the financial strength of companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Manus faces significant competition not only in the U.S. but also from strong rivals in China. DeepSeek is a major player there, and companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent won’t easily allow a newcomer to encroach on their market share.
Image | Mohamed Nohassi
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