After Perplexity, Meta launches its own alternative to OpenClaw.

Last year, Meta acquired Manus, a Chinese AI startup, for over 2 billion dollars. By acquiring the startup, Mark Zuckerberg's group has gained a «general AI agent» capable of linking «thoughts and actions» of its users. «thoughts and actions»

From the cloud, the AI agent excelled at performing tasks autonomously.

A few months after the acquisition, Meta has just given a boost to Manus. With the "My Computer" function, the AI agent can now operate directly on your PC. Until now, Manus operated entirely in the cloud. To follow its interlocutor's instructions, Manus can access your files, all your applications, or your command terminal.

Specifically, the AI executes commands in your computer's terminal, allowing it to read, analyze, modify local files, and launch applications installed on your machine… as if it were you. Manus can automatically organize thousands of files or even develop an application. On top of that, you can control Manus remotely from the dedicated app on your smartphone, without needing to stay in front of your PC. The feature is available now for macOS and Windows via the Manus Desktop app. Still in beta, the feature is available only to Pro subscribers, at $20 per month.

Also read: Meta could lay off 15,800 employees, or 20% of its workforce

Meta's own version of OpenClaw

With this new version of Manus, Meta is openly trying to ride the OpenClaw wave. Widely adopted by developers and curious users, this open source AI agent is capable of controlling your computer on your behalf. It generated a lot of buzz on social networks, to the extent that Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, ended up joining Meta. In the wake of this, Meta acquired Moltbook, the AI agent-powered social network based on OpenClaw.

In contrast to Meta, Perplexity unveiled its own alternative to OpenClaw, Personal Computer. Reserved for the Mac mini, the AI agent runs continuously with full access to your local files, apps, and all your sessions. Just like Perplexity's Personal Computer, Manus is a consumer alternative that rivals an OpenClaw agent. We hope that other tech giants involved in the AI race should follow suit and offer their own easy-to-access alternative to OpenClaw.

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