China’s Manus AI Sparks Global Buzz as the Next 'DeepSeek'
China has unveiled Manus AI, an advanced AI agent that its developers claim surpasses OpenAI’s models in multiple reasoning and problem-solving tasks.
Developed by Beijing Academy of AI (BAAI) and backed by state-led initiatives, Manus is capable of autonomous decision-making, real-time multimodal interactions, and complex task execution across industries.
The new generative AI entrant in the Web3 AI space reportedly excels in causal reasoning, contextual adaptation, and multi-turn dialogues ahead of GPT-4.5 and Anthropic’s Claude models.
With China prioritising AI self-sufficiency, Manus is framed as a competitor to Western AI dominance, reflecting intensifying Web3 AI technology rivalry between China and the U.S.
BAAI has hinted at broader deployments in sectors like finance, healthcare, and autonomous systems, but a public release or API access has not been officially announced. Analysts are watching closely to see whether Manus will follow the consumer-facing model of ChatGPT or remain restricted to enterprise and government applications in China’s strategic AI push.
OpenAI Plans $20,000/Month ‘PhD-Level’ AI Researcher Agents
OpenAI is reportedly developing specialised AI research agents designed to function at a PhD level, with subscription costs reaching $20,000 per month. These autonomous AI agents tackle highly complex and niche tasks, from scientific research to business intelligence, potentially replacing human analysts in specialised fields.
OpenAI claims these agents will conduct deep research, synthesise knowledge, and generate insights with an expertise level comparable to doctoral researchers. With an exclusively high price tag, these AI systems appear tailored for corporations, research labs, and financial firms rather than public use.
The move has stirred debate, with some hailing it as a breakthrough in AI-assisted research, while others raise concerns about job displacement and AI’s role in decision-making.
ETHDenver 2025 Highlights: AI, Policy, and Visionary Insights
ETHDenver 2025 has wrapped up, leaving behind a wave of innovation, policy discussions, and AI-driven breakthroughs. As one of the year’s most anticipated Ethereum and Web3 gatherings, the event showcased the deepening convergence of blockchain and artificial intelligence.
AI Everywhere initiative: Multiple side events explored AI-powered smart contracts, decentralised AI agents, and machine learning-driven security solutions for Web3
Policy debates around crypto regulation: Developers and policymakers engaged in conversations about how to regulate DeFi, DAOs, and tokenised assets while maintaining innovation
Layer-2 scaling solutions: Projects showcased new zk-rollups, optimistic rollups, and modular blockchain frameworks to enhance Ethereum’s scalability and efficiency
Ethereum's privacy push with Zero-Knowledge tech: ZK-proofs emerged as a major theme, with projects unveiling privacy-preserving identity solutions and transaction models
Real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation: Builders and investors highlighted key developments in RWAs, showing how Ethereum is bridging traditional finance with blockchain ecosystems
DAOs and governance innovation: Discussions around on-chain governance upgrades and DAO scalability solutions focused on creating more transparent, efficient decision-making models
Ethereum developers focus on account abstraction: Several talks highlighted smart contract wallets and ERC-4337 adoption, aiming to make Ethereum more user-friendly and secure. New GameFi protocols and Web3 metaverse tools for Ethereum were also showcased.
Market Slides After Trump's White House Crypto Summit and Strategic Bitcoin Reserves Announcement
President Donald Trump convened his first-ever White House Crypto Summit, and the likes of Brian Armstrong, the Winklevoss twins, Michael Saylor, Marc Andreessen, Cathie Wood, and thought leaders in the Web3 AI space were in attendance.
Dubbed a historic moment for crypto regulation, the summit focused on policy frameworks, institutional adoption, and the role of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, in which the latter was made official.
Trump reinforced his pro-crypto stance, pledging to undo restrictive regulations imposed under the Biden administration. However, specific legislative actions remain unclear. Investors pressed for greater regulatory clarity, particularly on stablecoin policies, tax implications, and the viability of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Despite the optimistic rhetoric, the market remained unconvinced about the strategic Bitcoin reserve’s long-term impact. With macro headwinds and uncertain execution risks, BTC slumped to a year-to-date low of about $81,000, reflecting bearish sentiment across the digital asset space.
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