The Agentic Revolution: Manus AI&#8217;s Vision for a Future Powered by Digital Assistants at Web Summit Lisbon 2026
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<aside>(This article was generated with AI and it&#8217;s based on a AI-generated transcription of a real talk on stage. While we strive for accuracy, we encourage readers to verify important information.)</aside>
<img decoding="async" src="https://web-summit-engine.imgix.net/tnsgb296zdgocyxxl7fjgutxu3e9?auto=format&amp;fit=fill&amp;fill=solid&amp;fill-color=white&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fm=jpg&amp;dl=Casey Lau.jpg" alt="Casey Lau, Tao Zhang" align="left" hspace="10" width="200" style="float:left;margin-right: 15px">
The global AI landscape has rapidly shifted from large language models, focused on chat and Q&amp;A, to sophisticated AI agents. These digital assistants perform tasks autonomously, moving beyond simple conversational interactions. Recent introductions like Meta&#8217;s Muse and Instinct for WhatsApp highlight this seismic change, signaling a future where AI actively &#8220;does&#8221; for users. Many tech leaders, including Mark Zuckerberg, believe AI agents are the true future of the AI era.

This conviction led Meta to attempt a $2 billion acquisition of Manus AI in December 2025. Manus AI, a pioneer in this field, launched in China in early 2025, focusing on practical, intuitive, and seamless agent technology. However, the acquisition faced significant political hurdles, with US politicians concerned about Chinese tech influence and China aiming to retain its homegrown AI talent. The deal was unwound in April 2026.

Undeterred, Manus AI secured over $500 million in funding in October 2026. Following this, Manus AI unveiled Manus 2.0, a groundbreaking stand-alone personal agent app. This advanced version grants each agent its own email address, phone number, and digital wallet. This functionality allows an agent to operate as a digital &#8220;person,&#8221; capable of registering for services, managing correspondence, and even making purchases with user permission, working tirelessly 24/7.

Mr. Tao Zhang, Co-founder and CPO of Manus AI, shared insights into the company&#8217;s rapid evolution. He noted that Manus AI initially defined the general AI agent category by integrating computers with AI, enabling agents to tackle diverse, long-tail tasks. With agents using computers now commonplace, Manus AI is pushing boundaries further with Manus 2.0&#8217;s expanded capabilities.

Mr. Zhang illustrated Manus 2.0&#8217;s practical impact through his personal experience. As someone with ADHD, he delegates his lengthy daily to-do list to Manus. The agent categorizes tasks, requests necessary context, and assigns them to team members with comprehensive background information gathered from various platforms. This transforms Manus into a personal chief of staff, streamlining his workflow.

The advent of AI agents has also profoundly reshaped Manus AI&#8217;s hiring philosophy since March 2026. The company now prioritizes individuals who excel at co-working with AI, as AI is increasingly proficient in execution. Engineering candidates are evaluated on their ability to solve problems using Manus within a four-hour timeframe, assessing their aptitude for AI collaboration.

Internally, Manus AI moves away from traditional job titles, valuing individuals who can achieve results, as AI empowers everyone to engage in diverse roles. Furthermore, Manus 2.0 boasts an impressive video generation feature. Mr. Zhang demonstrated its capability by creating a &#8220;production level&#8221; 30-second video about Web Summit Lisbon 2026 from a simple, less than 30-word prompt, showcasing its advanced creative potential.

The age of agents

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