Global AI development was astonished when China pulled DeepSeek out of its pocket out of nowhere. We remember: Deep Seek, a Chinese startup specialising in the development of advanced language models and AI, rivalled ChatGPT in January 2025 with its DeepSeek R1 model. Now it seems that companies like DeepSeek and, more recently, Manus AI, have the potential to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of AGI. 

The rise of DeepSeek

Until now, OpenAI had a firm grip on the market with ChatGPT. The special thing about DeepSeek, however, is that the performance of its models is comparable with Western competitors (such as OpenAI), but at a fraction of the cost. China is thus proving its ability to keep up, but as is so often the case, it is cheaper to produce! DeepSeek would like to release five of the code repositories (a storage location where developers can store, share and collaborate on the source code of a software project) in the AGI area as open source. This would promote transparency in AI development and also drive forward a global community innovation strategy in this area. 

Manus AI: the next frontier? 

In addition to DeepSeek, there is now another major player in China: Manus AI. The new Chinese AI star claims to be the world’s first general AI agent. The system demonstrates impressive capabilities in complex tasks such as website creation, stock analysis and B2B supplier search. The technology is based on the integration of existing models such as Claude Sonnet 3.5 from Anthropic and optimised Qwen models from Alibaba, combined with other specialised tools. Manus AI can plan and execute complex tasks independently, research on the internet and use various tools for analysis.

But what makes Manus AI so special? What is the difference to other models, such as ChatGPT? The simple answer would be: Manus AI not only provides answers but also solutions. While ChatGPT is based on a single large language model, Manus combines several different AI models. Manus AI searches the internet in real time and can provide detailed analysis, leading to more up-to-date results. Manus often provides ready-made solutions rather than just information. For example, it can not only make travel suggestions but actually book flights and hotels.

However, in a world where everything has to happen quickly, Manus AI is not always the better choice. For simple queries, its longer and more thorough response time can be a hindrance to fast interactions.

The question now is whether or not China is already scratching the surface of AGI with Manus AI. In view of the fact that Manus AI acts independently and provides solutions as well as answers, the answer should be: Yes. The aim of Manus AI is therefore to develop AGI-like capabilities through contextual understanding, and the new Chinese AI star is definitely on the verge of achieving this. What Manus AI definitely shows is that Chinese companies are going their own way and thinking differently from Western pioneers. 

The impact on industries and everyday life

Where is this all leading? Advances in AI with models such as DeepSeek and Manus AI will make AI accessible to everyone. In addition, AI is increasingly being integrated into devices, making them ubiquitous and smarter. One example is AI wearables, which could replace smartphones in the medium term. Advanced AI functions in our smartphones are also conceivable in the near future. The Chinese government has therefore implemented the AI-Plus initiative: The domestic industry is to be made more efficient through digital technologies and AI in the area of production. The Chinese government has recognised the potential of AI and is actively supporting its development in the following areas: A national strategy aims to establish China as a global innovation centre for AI by 2030. In order to address risks but also promote technological progress, China has implemented framework conditions such as the AI Safety Governance Framework.

Challenges and skepticism

Despite all the enthusiasm, some AI experts urge caution, as the so-called “DeepSeek Moment” may be more of a “marketing hype” than a real technological breakthrough. Even though companies such as Manus AI claim high accuracy, there are still no industry standards for accuracy in complex tasks. Finally, as is so often the case, there are also ethical considerations to be made, as data privacy and security will continue to be major issues as AI capabilities grow. 

Outlook

Ultimately, China is making significant progress towards AGI. The market for applications is also huge, and combined with strong government support in China and the open-source approach, China is positioning itself as a serious player in the international AI race.