Manus AI and the Future of Search

The world of AI is evolving at breakneck speed. Every week, new advancements reshape the way we interact with technology, and search is no exception. 

The latest disruption? Manus AI, an autonomous agent that has captivated the internet and is being hailed as "China’s second DeepSeek moment. "

The Rise of Manus AI

Developed by Chinese group Butterfly Effect, Manus AI is not just another chatbot—it’s an AI agent capable of advanced reasoning, research, and execution of tasks that go far beyond traditional generative models. Early testers claim it can perform stock analysis, game development, and even screenplay writing. The hype has driven invite codes onto the resale market, with some fetching prices as high as $1,000 on ebay.

Some users were even able to use Manus to develop an open-sourced version of itself, humorously (?) dubbed Anus. 

How AI Agents Like Manus Will Reshape Search

The introduction of AI agents like Manus signals a fundamental shift in how users interact with search engines and recommendation platforms. Traditionally, search queries looked something like this:

• Find me the best orthopedic chair under $300.

However, with AI agents, search transforms into something much more actionable:

• Find me the best orthopedic chair under $300, buy it, and have it delivered to my beach house.

This change is seismic for brands and businesses that rely on being discovered through search. Not only will Manus retrieve and interpret search results, but it will also make decisions and take actions on behalf of the user. This means the competition is no longer just about appearing in search results—it’s about being chosen by an AI agent that is filtering, evaluating, and executing decisions before a human ever sees the options.

What This Means for Brands: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

If you’re a brand, Manus AI is a wake-up call. Search is shifting from keyword-based ranking to AI-driven recommendations and actions. This means businesses must go beyond traditional SEO and embrace Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—a new strategy focused on influencing how AI models perceive, retrieve, and act on brand-related information.

How can brands adapt?

1. AI Visibility Tracking – Use tools like Geostar Visibility Tracker to monitor how generative AI search engines are discussing your brand and ensure you’re showing up in relevant conversations.
2. AI Impressions Management – Optimize for AI-driven discoverability by ensuring your brand appears in relevant AI-generated responses. Geostar Impressions Manager helps brands shape their presence in generative search.
3. AI Crawler Analytics – Traditional search engine crawlers are no longer the only ones scanning your website. AI crawlers interpret your data differently. Geostar Crawler Analytics helps brands refine their AI search strategy to stay competitive in this new landscape.

The Future of Search: Are You Ready?

AI agents like Manus represent the next phase of search and digital commerce. Instead of users manually sifting through results, AI agents will do the work for them—finding, filtering, and making decisions autonomously.

For businesses, this means adapting now. Those who fail to optimize for AI-driven search risk being excluded from the conversation entirely. Brands that invest in Generative Engine Optimization and tools like Geostar will have a competitive edge in the rapidly shifting digital landscape.

The question isn’t if AI agents will change search—it’s how fast. And for brands that rely on discoverability, the time to act is now.