Meta's Manus launches desktop app, bringing AI to devices amid OpenClaw trend

The artificial intelligence (AI) company Manus, recently purchased by Meta, introduced a new desktop application that brings its AI agent straight onto personal computers.

Initially, the company's general agent — capable of handling intricate, multi-step operations — was limited to the cloud and typically accessed via a web interface.

Now, with the freshly launched Manus Desktop tool, a feature known as 'My Computer' enables its agents to interact directly with local files, programs, and applications on a user's computer.

This enhanced service aligns Meta and Manus's agents more closely with OpenClaw, a downloadable open-source AI agent for users' local machines.

Created by Austrian software engineer Peter Steinberger late last year, OpenClaw's rise in popularity has stirred an AI agent phenomenon. 

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang referred to OpenClaw as the "next ChatGPT" during a conversation with Jim Cramer on CNBC's "Mad Money" on Tuesday.

Steinberger has also been recruited by ChatGPT creator OpenAI, which stands as one of Meta's key AI competitors.

Distinct from OpenClaw, which is freely available and open-source through an MIT license, Manus operates primarily on a subscription basis.

Manus states that the My Computer feature empowers its agent to read, evaluate, modify files, and activate or manage apps on the device.

As an example, the firm mentioned that users can command Manus to systematically arrange numerous internal images stored on their hard drives.

Beyond managing files, My Computer is also integrated with coding tools and is capable of creating an app within minutes, it explained.

These functionalities will be added to existing Manus features, which include synchronisation with services like Google Calendar, Gmail, and diverse third-party platforms.