China’s Artificial Intelligence landscape has rapidly evolved over the past year. After an initial wave of enthusiasm for foundation models—large language models designed to handle a broad range of tasks—the focus has transitioned to autonomous AI agents. Unlike conventional chatbots that simply respond to queries, these digital tools can autonomously complete complex tasks like managing schedules, planning vacations, and even building websites. The trend was set in motion by Manus, a consumer-oriented AI agent developed by Wuhan-based Butterfly Effect, which drew widespread attention after its early March launch triggered a scramble for invite codes on Chinese social media.
Manus and its successors are engineered atop existing large language models and take a workflow-centric approach to task completion. They move beyond conversational interfaces, aiming instead to orchestrate multi-step operations by integrating external tools and retaining long-term memories to carry out recurring or complex instructions. China’s ecosystem offers a fertile ground for this innovation, thanks to its interconnected app environments, rapid product iterations, and digital-savvy user base. Many startups, including Genspark and Flowith, now compete with Manus by introducing unique agent frameworks: Genspark adopts multi-component prompting and tool integration, while Flowith offers a mind-map interface that emphasizes nonlinear, creative project management.
Despite origin in China, leading AI agent startups currently focus on global markets due to limitations on Western language models within the country. Foreign models like Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet remain vital for global deployment but are inaccessible from mainland China, pushing companies to experiment with domestic alternatives such as Alibaba’s Qwen—though these alternatives lag in performance. Meanwhile, Chinese tech giants like ByteDance and Tencent are moving to embed AI agents within super-apps like WeChat and Doubao, leveraging enormous user bases and interconnected service ecosystems. Their goal is to integrate automation directly into everyday life through seamless access to mini-programs and internal applications. As this competitive landscape matures, the interplay between nimble startups and established internet behemoths continues to shape the future of task-oriented Artificial Intelligence both in China and abroad.
