Chinese AI startup Manus has introduced a new text-to-video feature,Watch Friends allowing users to generate structured video stories from simple text prompts within minutes. The tool is currently available to paid subscribers and will roll out more broadly soon. Known for its AI agent capable of executing complex tasks, Manus quickly rose to prominence after launching earlier this year, shortly after DeepSeek made waves with its affordable AI model. Its parent company, Butterfly Effect, drew attention in April after securing $75 million in funding from Benchmark Capital — a rare US investment in a Chinese AI firm amid rising geopolitical tensions. As global tech firms race to commercialize video generation, analysts say the emerging sector could transform industries ranging from marketing and education to entertainment. [Manus]
