China's new AI agent is insane.

The AI race isn’t China vs USA. It’s humanity vs extinction.

• Pandemics won’t ask for a passport.

• Climate disasters don’t care about borders.

• Curing cancer helps everyone. The real game? Collaborate or die.

In today’s post:

• Manus: The AI agent for automation

• Fiverr’s new AI tools

• xAI: Mention @grok in X to get replies

• Health expert: Why AI is not helping with connections

• Trending AI tools + More AI news

What’s Trending Today

MANUS

China’s New AI Agent Works Without Humans

Imagine an AI that doesn’t just answer your questions but actually does the job for you from start to finish. That’s exactly what China just unveiled with Manus, and it’s making waves.

Here’s what makes it a big deal:

• Manus isn’t just another chatbot. It’s an AI agent that completes tasks on its own no human hand-holding.

• It was built by Monica. im, a company founded by Xiao Hong, a seasoned AI developer backed by big investors like Tencent.

• It passed the GAIA test with top marks meaning it’s at the cutting edge of AI assistant capabilities.

• It works differently from traditional AI. Instead of just responding to prompts, it plans, executes, and delivers results.

• A live demo showed it screening job applicants for an AI engineering role reading resumes, extracting key info, and making decisions.

• Some parts of Manus will be open-sourced, allowing developers to build on it later this year.

Here’s what I think:

This is the AI future we’ve been talking about where machines don’t just assist but actually replace human decision-making in certain tasks. And with OpenAI rolling out doctor-level AI agents for $20K a month, it’s clear: AI agents are about to be everywhere.

The big question…are we really ready for this?

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Fiverr

Fiverr’s New AI Tools: A Freelancer’s Best Friend or a Threat?

For years, freelancers have heard the same warning: AI is coming for your jobs. But Fiverr’s latest move suggests something different AI might actually help freelancers, not replace them.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Fiverr launched Fiverr Go, a suite of AI tools designed to boost freelancers rather than undercut them.

• It includes a Personal AI Assistant, handling time-consuming tasks like invoicing, scheduling, and emails so freelancers can focus on their actual work (and not burn out).

• The Personal AI Creation Model lets freelancers train AI on their own work, keeping full control and ownership so their creativity stays theirs.

• The goal? Make freelancers more valuable, not less, by turning AI into a productivity multiplier.

• Fiverr’s AI isn’t built on scraped data but on real freelancer-client transactions, making it smarter for actual work scenarios.

The big question: Will platforms respect freelancer autonomy, or will they use AI to replace them anyway?

Here’s what I think:

Freelancers who use AI will probably thrive, while those who ignore it might struggle. The reality is, AI isn’t going anywhere but Fiverr’s approach suggests a future where it’s a tool, not a competitor.

Whether Fiverr and others stick to their word and protect creative rights instead of slowly shifting the power to the platforms. Let’s see how this plays out.

xAI

X’s Grok Just Got Easier to Use…Here’s How

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, is now just a mention away. If you’re on X, you can tag @Grok in a reply, ask a question, and get an AI-generated explanation right there in the thread.

Here’s what’s new:

• You can now summon Grok by mentioning it in replies—no need to open a separate chat or click extra buttons.

• X already had a Grok button next to posts, letting users generate AI explanations for text and images.

• Grok is expanding beyond X, with a standalone app on iOS and Android, plus a dedicated website.

• Other AI companies are doing similar moves—Meta integrated its AI assistant into Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook search bars.

• xAI also launched “SuperGrok”, a premium plan with unlimited image generation and early access to new features.

Here’s what I think:

AI chatbots are everywhere now, and companies are racing to make them as accessible as possible. This move makes Grok feel more like an active participant on X, rather than just another chatbot buried in the menu.

Impact

Can AI Be Your Best Friend? A Health Expert Says, Not So Fast

AI companions are booming millions of people now use them as digital friends, partners, even spouses. But while AI can simulate social interaction, can it truly replace real human connection? One expert is waving a red flag.

Here’s what’s happening:

• AI chatbots are growing fast, with AI companion apps seeing a 652% revenue spike in 2024, pulling in $55 million.

• Health expert Kasley Killam warns against over-relying on AI for social connection, saying it should complement real-life relationships, not replace them.

• People use AI as everything from friends to romantic partners, which Killam finds both concerning and understandable.

• The key issue: AI socialization is fine—as long as it’s not your only connection to the world.

• She also pointed out the larger problem: People are already replacing social time with scrolling, streaming, and passive media consumption.

Here’s what I think:

AI chatbots are useful but they’re not a substitute for human connection. The danger is in letting AI friendships become the only friendships. Social skills, emotional depth, and real bonds come from human interactions.

So, next time you feel the urge to chat with AI… maybe text a real friend first?

AI TRENDS + TOOLS

AI TOOLS

• AI Proposal & Contract Writing: Better Proposals

• AI Personal Assistant for Emails: SaneBox

• AI Product Descriptions for E-Commerce: Sellesta

• AI Background Music Generator: Soundraw

• AI Real-Time Translation: DeepL

• AI Auto-Generate Legal Agreements: Ironclad

• AI Whiteboard & Collaboration Tool: Miro

I took these AI tools from Nextool AI. Interested in exploring more? Check them out here at Nextool AI tools directory

THE AI DIGEST

• AI integration in the military sparks debate: Scale AI lands a contract with the US Defense Department to integrate AI into military decision-making, raising both optimism and concerns over safety and bias.

• US drops push to make Google sell AI investments: The DOJ has withdrawn its demand for Google to divest AI stakes like Anthropic but is still considering other measures, including a potential Chrome sale.

• Kazuo Ishiguro warns AI could manipulate emotions: The Nobel laureate cautions that AI may become dangerously good at influencing human feelings, calling for stricter regulations to protect creativity.

• Céline Dion blasts AI-generated music using her voice: The singer condemns unauthorized AI recreations, fueling ongoing debates about AI’s impact on artists' rights and the need for ethical guidelines.

• Apple delays AI-powered Siri upgrade: The company pushes back its AI-enhanced Siri launch to next year, raising questions about its ability to compete in the fast-moving AI space.

• US job market echoes 1990s dot-com boom: Low unemployment and AI-driven growth fuel optimism, but fears of a looming AI bubble and economic instability are growing.

• Meta pushes AI voice capabilities with Llama 4: The company unveils Llama 4, enhances its AI assistant, and tests premium subscriptions, strengthening its position in the AI race.

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