BEIJING, March 7 -- Chinese start-up Monica has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) agent called Manus, sparking widespread attention and discussions online, with some media comparing its launch to the rise of DeepSeek.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has boldly described it as the world's first general AI agent, capable of autonomously and independently thinking, planning, and executing complex tasks.

"Manus is a general AI agent that bridges minds and actions: it doesn't just think, it delivers results. Manus excels at various tasks in work and life, getting everything done while you rest," it said on its website.

Monica claimed the AI agent can be applied to diverse tasks, including trip planning and stock analysis.

It also ass...