Manus launches personal AI agents on Telegram, with WhatsApp and Slack support coming soon

Manus Brings Personal AI Agents to Telegram

Manus, the Meta-owned agentic AI tool, has officially launched personal AI agents on Telegram, marking the first step in its ambitious plan to integrate with popular messaging apps including WhatsApp, Slack, LINE, and Discord 1

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. Unlike traditional chatbots, these AI agents are designed to handle complex, multi-step task execution on behalf of users, from searching for apartments and booking hotels to building websites and ordering food from restaurants 1

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The launch positions Manus as a more accessible alternative to OpenClaw, the Austrian-made open source tool recently acquired by OpenAI. While OpenClaw has garnered attention for similar capabilities, it requires complex setup and maintenance. Manus Agents, by contrast, focuses on simplicity, allowing users to connect their agent to Telegram by simply scanning a QR code 1

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Full Reasoning and Tool Integration Inside Messaging Apps

According to Manus, the in-chat AI agents deliver the complete Manus platform experience with full reasoning, tools, and multi-step task execution capabilities. "This is not a lightweight chatbot add-on," the company emphasized in a blog post. "It's the same Manus -- with full reasoning, tools, and multi-step task execution -- now available through chat" 1

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Telegram users can now ask their Manus agent to perform tasks ranging from research and data processing to creating PDF files directly within the app. The platform offers extensive customization options, allowing users to specify response tones—concise, structured, or conversational—and switch between different models 1

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. Manus 1.6 Lite handles quick responses and everyday tasks, while Manus 1.6 Max tackles deeper reasoning and creative work 2

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The agents can also transcribe voice messages and "understand intent" to execute tasks, according to Manus 2

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. Suggested use cases include weekly meeting preparation, creating profile images, and generating videos from simple photos 1

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Rapid Expansion Across Messaging Platforms

Manus co-founder Tao Zhang announced on X that the company plans to accelerate the rollout of Manus Agents across messaging apps over the next 30 days, with support for WhatsApp, LINE, Slack, and Discord arriving "very soon" 1

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. The company is also planning to launch native Windows and Mac apps and give Manus the ability to operate users' PCs on their behalf 1

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Interestingly, Meta-owned Manus is launching on Telegram first, despite Meta being the parent company of WhatsApp 2

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. This strategic choice may reflect Telegram's more open API ecosystem and developer-friendly environment.

User Privacy and Meta Acquisition Context

Addressing user privacy concerns, Manus Agents promises that the AI agent only accesses messages users send it directly. "It cannot see, read, or interact with any of your other conversations, groups, or contacts," the Meta-acquired startup stated 2

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. The service is available on Telegram across all subscription tiers 2

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Manus, which first gained prominence in March last year, was acquired by Meta in December in a deal valued at more than $2bn 2

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. The acquisition followed a $75m funding round in April that valued the Chinese-founded AI startup at $500m 2

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. Headquartered in Singapore with a Chinese parent company called Butterfly Effect Technology, Manus faced scrutiny from China's Ministry of Commerce, which launched an investigation to determine whether the acquisition violated technology export laws and outbound investment rules 2

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Under the acquisition terms, Meta can operate and sell the Manus service and integrate it into its own products, including Meta AI. However, Manus retains the ability to sell subscriptions through its own app and website 2

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. "Joining Meta allows us to build on a stronger, more sustainable foundation without changing how Manus works or how decisions are made," Manus CEO Xiao Hong said at the time of the acquisition 1

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