Making Sense of the AI Agent Revolution

Can AI Agents like Manus Really Deliver on Their Bold Promises?

Like many folks, I made a bunch of predictions, 10 to be exact, at the beginning of the year. One of those was the rapid rise of AI agents.

We’re only three months in, but if you have any doubts, the past couple weeks have some bold indications it’s more than a shot in the dark. Manus AI recently exploded onto the scene, showcasing a low-cost, impressive multimodal AI agent capable of autonomously performing tasks that previously required significant human effort. Not to be outdone, OpenAI quickly responded with its “premium” alternative, priced at a cool $20,000 per month.

Per usual, I posted my off-the-cuff video with some initial reactions to the demos I’ve seen and conversations I’ve had. More to come, but as a teaser, what we’re seeing is impressive. That said, as impressive as it all looks, I’ve been around the block. Demos aren't enough to convince me AI agents will be the future of work. There is a lot more nuance and complexity to work than headlines or a carefully prepared demo can address.

However, that doesn’t stop the hype machine from running full tilt, stirring up all sorts of foolish decisions and anxiety. With that in mind, I wanted to share four deeper reflections on what’s unfolding and how to respond to this AI agent revolution.

With that, let’s get to it.

Key Reflections

“AI agents are a quantum breakthrough in the hands of those who know how to use them well.”

I won’t pile on the hype, but it’d be unfair if I didn’t start by giving credit where credit is due. The recent demonstrations from Manus AI and OpenAI are genuinely impressive. These AI agents smoothly and autonomously handle complex and time-consuming tasks like research, content generation, and even full-scale web development. It’s foolish not to acknowledge their immense potential. In the hands of someone who deeply understands their domain and simply needs extra hands to bring their ambitious ideas to life, this is transformational.

This has huge implications for small startups or scrappy entrepreneurs. Any organization that’s loaded with wise people but finds themselves perpetually resource-starved now has the equivalent of a skilled, tireless assistant at their fingertips. This is a massive equalizer, dramatically leveling the playing field. With AI agents like Manus available at a fraction of the cost of a human employee or AI giants like OpenAI, companies can access sophisticated capabilities once reserved exclusively for those with massive budgets.

This isn't empty hype. These agents are powerful enough to reshape workflows, supercharge productivity, and give even the smallest players a genuine competitive edge. If you’re not already, now is absolutely the time to start paying attention.

“Speed and automation is powerful, but only if you’re crystal clear on what needs to be accomplished.”

Now, I just applauded how transformative AI agents can be, but let’s be clear about one very crucial caveat. These things are only going to help you if you actually know what needs to be accomplished and can clearly articulate it. Like any powerful tool, AI agents will exponentially amplify your direction. However, if that direction isn't clear, their speed and capability become a liability, not a strength. I have worked with people who have already had their businesses harmed and even destroyed because they carelessly threw AI at a perceived problem, banking on it to solve it.

This is especially problematic because we live in a culture obsessed with speed. We’re told that faster and more is always better. I promise you, it’s not. If you're running in the wrong direction, speed and more “stuff” just means you'll hit bigger disasters a whole lot faster. AI agents operate at breathtaking speed, executing complex tasks in moments that once took hours or days. That sounds incredible, and it is until you realize you’ve sprinted a marathon in seconds, straight into a catastrophe you can’t escape. The faster things move, the less time we have to recognize and correct errors. Small oversights quickly compound into irreversible mistakes.

So, yes, AI agents like Manus promise remarkable speed and productivity, but speed alone isn’t progress. Make sure you’re clear about your destination, or else you might find yourself accelerating into chaos.

“Leaders trying to decide between AI and people are asking the wrong questions.”

Executives everywhere are locked in discussions about workforce planning for the future. I know because I’m involved in many. They’re asking each other and themselves whether they should invest more heavily in AI agents or continue hiring humans. However, as I frequently point out, the question reveals a deeper issue. Many leaders are trapped in binary thinking, believing this whole situation is an either-or decision. I promise you, most of the time, that’s not the right way to think about this change.

No team can say they get to all their meaningful, strategic work. Every person has lists of things they know need to be done, but they don’t have time because they're drowning in routine, repetitive tasks that chew up hours and days, leaving crucial initiatives perpetually on the back burner. Agents can help sweep away this clutter, not so they can replace teams, but precisely so people can finally do the uniquely human work you hired them for. Imagine what your organization would look like if your brightest, most strategic minds weren’t bogged down by administrative tasks, chasing information, or compiling reports. Imagine if their attention and energy were shifted to exploring new ideas, innovating boldly, and pushing boundaries.

When you pit humans against AI, everyone loses. The real opportunity lies in the partnership. Smart leaders are reframing the challenge and asking, “How do we effectively integrate AI so that it unleashes the full potential of our people?”

“Holding onto what keeps you comfortable is choosing obsolescence.”

To everyone, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Your job, as you know it today, will not exist much longer. That statement isn’t hyperbole or fear-mongering; it’s reality. AI agents like Manus are already capable of doing most mundane tasks faster, cheaper, and (let’s face it) more reliably than you can. They also aren’t going to get worse. With each release, they’ll get better, and the price will come down. It won’t be long before they’re included in O365 and Google Workspace. If your value is wrapped up entirely in the routine tasks you perform, your future doesn’t look great.

However, don’t fret. There’s some good news. People aren't displaced by innovation alone; they’re displaced by their unwillingness to change and adapt. We have this tendency to cling to tasks we know and even hate because familiarity feels safe. We find ourselves attached to activity and busy work because, even though we hate it, it provides a sense of identity and a comfortable illusion of productivity and security. Unfortunately, comfort and familiarity are fatal when change comes knocking. If you refuse to let go of tasks that technology can clearly do better, you aren’t protecting your job; you’re actively choosing obsolescence.

It may be scary, but AI is going to clear the board of mundane tasks, and when it does, it will reveal whether you're truly ready to evolve or hang onto what's comfortable. What’s ahead is entirely your choice.

Concluding Thoughts

Thank you again for sticking with me. I know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As a husband, dad of eight young kids, content creator, and tech and business leader, there are plenty of mornings I wake up thinking, “Can’t I just have one day where it doesn’t feel like the whole world has been flipped again?” If you feel fatigued and even a little cynical, you’re not alone.

And, based on what I’m seeing, the answer to that previous question is probably no. The tables are going to keep flipping and probably flipping faster. Change is accelerating faster than ever in human history.

However, there’s a hopeful truth hiding underneath all this upheaval. As different as everything feels, in many ways nothing is truly changing at all. It reminds me of the wisdom from Ecclesiastes, that “there’s nothing new under the sun.” At its core, work has always been about humans adapting, learning new skills, and navigating uncertainty. While the tools, technology, and activity may look different, the fundamentals stay remarkably consistent.

So, yes, you'll need to embrace new ways of thinking and working. Yes, you’ll need to adapt faster and more frequently than ever before. However, you’ve already been doing this your whole life, even if it hasn’t felt as intense. It’s the same familiar journey that happens to be wrapped in a different coat of paint.

So, take a deep breath, lean into what you already know, and remember that you’re more prepared than you think.

With that, we’ll see you on the other side.