On June 4, 2025, AI startup Manus unveiled a groundbreaking text-to-video generation feature, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to OpenAI’s Sora and other industry giants like Alibaba and Tencent. This new capability allows users to transform simple text prompts into structured video stories within minutes, marking a significant advancement in the field of generative AI.+

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Manus: From Autonomous Agent to Multimedia Creator

Manus, developed by the Singapore-based startup Monica (also known as Butterfly Effect AI), initially gained attention for its autonomous AI agent capable of independently executing complex tasks such as website creation, stock analysis, and travel planning. Building on this foundation, Manus’s latest feature extends its capabilities into the realm of video content creation, enabling users to generate sequenced videos from textual descriptions.

Unlike traditional text-to-video tools that often produce disjointed clips, Manus’s approach involves creating a storyboard, performing concept visualization, generating multiple video segments, and seamlessly stitching them together—all from a single prompt. This holistic process results in coherent and contextually rich video narratives, setting Manus apart in the competitive landscape of AI-generated content.

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Strategic Positioning Against Industry Leaders

The introduction of Manus’s text-to-video feature comes at a time when major players like OpenAI have already established similar services, such as Sora, which requires a paid ChatGPT subscription costing up to $200 per month. In contrast, Manus offers a more flexible pricing model with tiered memberships—Basic, Plus, and Pro—making advanced video generation more accessible to a broader user base.

This strategic pricing, combined with Manus’s emphasis on user-friendly interfaces and autonomous operation, positions the startup as a viable alternative for content creators, educators, and marketers seeking cost-effective and efficient video production solutions.

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Implications for the Future of Content Creation

Manus’s foray into text-to-video generation signifies a broader trend in AI development, where tools are becoming increasingly adept at translating human intent into diverse forms of media. By lowering the barriers to video content creation, Manus empowers individuals and organizations to produce high-quality visual narratives without the need for extensive technical expertise or resources.

As AI-generated content continues to evolve, Manus’s innovative approach could catalyze new applications across various sectors, including education, entertainment, and digital marketing. The startup’s commitment to expanding its feature set and refining its technology suggests that Manus will remain a key player to watch in the rapidly advancing field of generative AI.