🌋 Manus AI Shakes Up The World

Autonomous AI agents are finally here & they’re scary good 🧟‍♂️

Meet Manus AI, China’s bold leap into the future—a fully autonomous AI agent that doesn’t just chat, but acts. Launched on March 6, this cutting-edge system from Butterfly Effect can tackle everything from stock analysis to trip planning, all without human hand-holding. It’s not just a tool; it’s a digital workforce that’s sparking awe and unease worldwide.

🏃 One large step for agentic AI
Unlike ChatGPT or Gemini, which wait for your prompts, Manus takes the wheel. Built on a multi-agent system with Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Alibaba’s Qwen models, it splits complex tasks—like screening resumes or scouting real estate—into sub-jobs handled by specialized agents.

Running in the cloud (which presents its own set of issues), it works tirelessly, delivering results even after you log off. Early testers rave about its potential, though some report glitches that hint it’s still a work in progress.

The global AI race heats up 🔥 
Silicon Valley is rattled. Manus outshines Western rivals by acting independently, raising the stakes in the AI arms race. China’s edge? A willingness to push boundaries, leaving U.S. firms scrambling to catch up. But with autonomy comes a major question: Who’s liable when Manus missteps: the AI agent, the user, or no one?

🤔 There are a few skeptics and for good reason
Not everyone is sold on Manus. Despite excelling in benchmarks like GAIA, it faces doubts. AI researcher Alexander Doria calls it “fundamentally a workflow” rather than a true autonomous agent.

Users have reported issues with tasks like booking flights or ordering food, and TechCrunch highlighted errors and infinite loops during testing. While its ambition earns praise, these critiques raise questions about whether Manus will truly revolutionize AI or remain an ambitious work in progress.

🍏 Apple Intelligence…..Still Loading

Apple’s grand plan to turbocharge Siri with Apple Intelligence has hit a snag—key features like in-app actions and personal context awareness are now delayed to 2026. Promised for this spring, these upgrades aimed to make Siri a proactive assistant, but technical hurdles have forced a rethink.

🛠️ What’s the holdup?
Consistency is a pain point. Siri’s split backend—old commands on one system, new AI tricks on another—has bogged down development. Engineers are racing to squash bugs, while security fears, like prompt injection attacks, loom large. Apple’s privacy-first ethos means it can’t rush a shaky release, even as rivals like OpenAI surge ahead.

🔒 Safety over innovation and speed
Leadership, including Craig Federighi, insists on perfection, aligning with Apple’s brand trust. The unified Siri system slated for iOS 19 might finally deliver, but for now, Apple’s playing catch-up in the AI game—proof that even giants stumble under pressure.

This Week’s Scoop 🍦

🏆 The Turing Award goes to 2 AI pioneers

📚 Oxford warns against letting companies use copyrighted material

🎓 China makes AI education a required subject for all students

⚖️ U.S. lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills targeting AI regulation

🛡️ Pentagon partners with Scale AI to build war planning AI

🧠 Foxconn builds 'FoxBrain' with the help of Nvidia

🤯 Two Truths and an AI Lie

Here are three jaw-dropping claims about AI’s powers. Two are real, backed by tech breakthroughs; one’s a clever fake. Can you spot the lie?

1. AI can reconstruct detailed 3D models of ancient ruins from old, blurry photographs alone, revealing architectural secrets lost to time.
   

2. AI can compose an entirely new Beethoven symphony by analyzing his existing works, and it’s been performed live without audiences noticing it wasn’t his.
   

3. AI can identify the smell of rain with 95% accuracy using sensors and predict its exact arrival time within a 10-minute window.

Click here to scroll to the bottom to see if you guessed right 💡

🛍️ AI Challenge: Find Bargains Like a Pro

Objective: Use AI to shop smarter by tracking prices, uncovering discounts, and saving money on a product you want to buy.

Steps to Participate:

🙋 Pick a Product: Choose something you’ve been eyeing—say, spring gardening tools or outdoor gear, perfect for March deals.

✴️ Select an AI Tool: Try Honey (coupons and price tracking), ShopSavvy (price comparisons), or CamelCamelCamel (Amazon price history).

🔎 Hunt for Savings: Check the current price, set alerts for drops, and compare across stores.

👐 Share Your Win: Tell us the original price, the AI-found deal, and how much you saved.

🔍 ‘Two Truths and an AI Lie’ Answer

The lie was Statement 3. AI can rebuild 3D ruins and craft symphonies, but sniffing out rain with 95% accuracy and predicting its arrival within 10 minutes? That’s still a stretch beyond today’s tech.

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That’s it for this week’s edition of Jumble! From Manus AI’s bold autonomy to Apple’s Siri delays, the AI world is buzzing. What do you think—will self-driving AI like Manus reshape our lives? And how much can you save with this week’s challenge? Drop us your thoughts and bargain wins—we can’t wait to hear from you!

Stay informed, stay curious, and stay ahead with Jumble!

Zoe from Jumble