Manus AI, the AI agent platform from China that recently captured significant online attention, has officially introduced paid subscription plans as it navigates its ongoing beta phase. This move marks a significant step for the company, Butterfly Effect, signaling a transition towards monetization while still managing access due to high demand. The platform aims to automate complex tasks, positioning itself as a tool capable of bridging the gap between conception and execution for various user needs. The new subscription model offers two distinct tiers designed to cater to different usage levels. The entry-level plan is priced at $39 per month, providing users with 3,900 credits and the capability to run two tasks concurrently. For more intensive users, a premium plan is available at $199 per month. This higher tier includes a substantial 19,900 credits, allows for up to five simultaneous tasks, and grants priority access, particularly beneficial during peak usage times. Manus has indicated that subscribers needing more capacity can purchase additional credits through top-up packs, although specific pricing for these packs has not yet been detailed. Manus promotes itself as a versatile agentic tool, capable of handling tasks ranging from creating simple web pages, like a wedding invitation site, to more complex operations like generating a baseball game scoring sheet. However, initial testing and reviews suggest that while promising, the platform may not consistently meet all the ambitious capabilities highlighted in its marketing materials. This gap between promise and performance is not uncommon for platforms in beta, especially those dealing with the complexities of autonomous AI agents. Alongside the introduction of paid tiers, Manus AI has rolled out other significant updates to enhance its offering and accessibility. An iOS application has been released, extending the platform's reach to mobile users on Apple devices. Furthermore, the AI model powering Manus's backend has been upgraded to Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet. This upgrade suggests a commitment to leveraging advanced AI capabilities to improve the platform's performance, understanding, and task execution reliability. The introduction of subscriptions comes at a time when Manus is actively working to manage its growth and infrastructure demands. The company acknowledged via X (formerly Twitter) that access remains temporarily limited during this development phase as they focus on scaling their systems. They also mentioned ongoing efforts to optimize credit usage rates for better user value. The platform's invite-only status during beta has fueled exclusivity and high demand, reportedly leading to access codes being listed on resale sites for significant sums, underscoring the intense interest surrounding this emerging AI tool from China. As Manus AI transitions to a paid model while still in beta, it faces the dual challenge of justifying its subscription costs and scaling its infrastructure to meet user expectations and demand. The platform's success will hinge on its ability to consistently deliver reliable results, refine its capabilities based on user feedback, and ultimately bridge the gap between its current performance and its ambitious vision for autonomous AI agents. The recent updates, including the new model and mobile app, indicate active development aimed at achieving these goals in the competitive AI landscape.
