On June 12, Manus AI announced the launch of its new "Chat Mode," which is completely free and unrestricted for all users. This feature's release marks another significant breakthrough for Manus in the field of AI productivity tools, providing users with a seamless experience from simple conversations to complex tasks.

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Free and Unrestricted: Chat Mode Lowers the Barriers to Use

The latest chat mode launched by Manus AI provides users with a simple and efficient dialogue interface that supports instant answering, covering various scenarios from daily consultations to professional knowledge queries. Unlike traditional AI chat tools, this mode is not only completely free but also has no usage limits on times or duration, significantly lowering the user experience threshold.

Social media users have provided feedback saying that this function makes Manus AI a "smart assistant anytime, anywhere," especially suitable for scenarios where quick answers are needed. The official side stated that the launch of chat mode aims to attract more users to experience Manus' AI capabilities while paving the way for future advanced features.

Gemini Model Support: Strong Performance Sparks Speculation

Although Manus officials have not disclosed technical details about the chat mode, some social media users have found that its responses claim "I am a large language model trained by Google," suggesting it may use Google's Gemini model. The specific model is unclear, but speculation points to Gemini2.5Pro or a customized version, providing support for the chat mode with its powerful reasoning and multimodal capabilities.

In light of recent performances of Gemini in areas like image generation (such as Imagen4) and deep search, this speculation further increases user expectations for the chat mode. AIbase analysis believes that Manus may have optimized its dialog generation capabilities through a technical cooperation with Google, offering users a smoother and more precise experience.

Seamless Transition to Agent Mode: From Dialogue to Action

A highlight of the chat mode is its smooth integration with Agent mode. Users can quickly clarify their needs or brainstorm directions through chat mode, then switch seamlessly to Agent mode to execute more complex tasks, such as web design, data analysis, or automation workflows.

Compared to the "high barrier" operation of directly starting Agent tasks in traditional modes, this "chat first, act later" design significantly improves efficiency and avoids wasting points. Social media users praise this function as "a perfect transition from brainstorming to execution," especially suitable for scenarios requiring step-by-step work progress.

In addition, the official side revealed that chat mode and Agent mode share the same interface, allowing users to complete the entire process from simple Q&A to in-depth tasks without switching windows, further optimizing the work experience.

Market Layout and Competition: Behind the Free Strategy

Manus AI's free chat mode is seen as an important step in its global market expansion. Since its launch in March 2024, Manus has attracted over 2 million users to join the waiting list and completed $75 million in financing in May 2025, with a valuation of $500 million. Investors include Benchmark Capital and Sequoia China.

Through the free strategy, Manus directly targets mainstream AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, aiming to attract individual users and small and medium-sized enterprises with low cost and high performance. Social media users compare it with ChatGPT's subscription model, believing that the "free chat + pay-as-you-go Agent" model is more flexible, especially more attractive to users with limited budgets.

However, analysts point out that while the free model helps user growth, long-term profitability still depends on advanced subscriptions (such as team plans at $39/month and premium subscriptions at $199/month) or enterprise services. Manus also plans to enter the Japanese and Middle Eastern markets and deepen its cooperation with Alibaba's Qwen model to enhance its technological competitiveness.

Summary

Manus AI's chat mode has entered the market with a strong free and unrestricted strategy, offering users an efficient experience from conversation to action through potential support from the Gemini model and seamless integration with Agent mode. This update not only lowers the barriers to using AI tools but also demonstrates Manus' ambitions in the global AI market. Facing competition from giants like ChatGPT, Manus' free strategy and multi-functional ecosystem (including recently launched text-to-video and image generation tools) could become key to its success.