China’s Manus Launches Wide Research to Rival OpenAI’s Deep AI Tools
As the race to dominate the AI landscape intensifies, a new challenger has emerged from China. Manus, an AI company, has introduced its Wide Research tool directly targeting platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Unlike traditional AI systems that focus on depth and sequential reasoning, Wide Research is designed for scale. It leverages over 100 AI agents to tackle large, high-volume tasks simultaneously.
The timing of this release is significant. Global tech firms are investing heavily in AI agents that offer in-depth web research and long-form analysis. However, Manus aims to stand out by optimizing for speed and scale rather than exhaustive detail. This strategy could appeal to users who need fast, parallel output across massive datasets or creative tasks.
According to the company, “We affectionately call it Wide Research, but what it unlocks goes far beyond research. At its core, Wide Research is a system-level mechanism for parallel processing and a protocol for agent-to-agent collaboration.”
How Wide Research Operates Differently
Central to Wide Research is a cloud-based virtual machine that Manus claims has “Turing-completeness.” This means it can, in principle, handle almost any computing task. In practice, users interact with the system using natural language, avoiding the need for code or complex inputs. This allows anyone from researchers to designers to access powerful computing capabilities effortlessly.
Notably, the system can scale computing resources up to 100 times more than its earlier version. As a result, even complex projects that would normally demand high-end hardware can be managed easily.
In one demonstration, co-founder and chief scientist Yichao ‘Peak’ Ji showcased Wide Research analyzing 100 sneakers simultaneously. Each AI sub-agent assessed a single shoe, evaluating its design, pricing, and availability. Within minutes, the results were presented as a sortable matrix in both spreadsheet and web formats.
Another demo highlighted the platform’s creative potential. Manus agents generated poster designs in 50 unique visual styles simultaneously. All assets were compiled into a downloadable ZIP file. This flexibility is made possible by system-level parallel processing, where agents coordinate in real-time without needing predefined roles.
A Strategic Shift from Deep to Wide AI
While OpenAI and other firms focus on Deep Research methods that rely on sequential task execution and role-based reasoning—Manus is carving a new path. Its Wide Research tool emphasizes breadth over depth, delivering rapid results across numerous dimensions at once. This could be ideal for professionals comparing options, processing large datasets, or generating creative variations at scale.
Availability begins with the Pro plan, priced at $199 per month. Gradual rollout will follow for users on the Plus ($39/month) and Basic ($19/month) plans. A limited version will also be available for Free plan users.
By shifting focus from in-depth analysis to large-scale task execution, Manus may have found a niche that distinguishes it from Western rivals. As AI tools continue to evolve, speed and scope could become just as important as depth and detail.
