Meta has released a desktop version of its newly acquired Manus AI platform, marking a significant expansion in its personal AI offerings.
The newly launched “My Computer” application allows the AI to operate directly on individual Mac and PC devices, rather than only via the cloud. This development enables users to automate routine tasks and manage local files through an autonomous AI agent, potentially streamlining daily workflows for both individuals and businesses.
With the new Manus Desktop app, users can instruct the AI to interact with their operating system, execute command-line tasks, and manipulate files stored locally on their computers. The tool is designed to automate time-consuming jobs such as sorting large collections of images, organizing documents, or executing repetitive programming tasks. For instance, users can ask the agent to process and categorize thousands of photos, which the system then automatically scans, organizes into folders, and sorts as directed.
The latest release also enhances AI support for software development. Manus can now interface with programming languages and environments already installed on the user’s machine—including Python, Node.js, and Swift—offering the possibility to build, debug, and package applications through terminal commands. In a recent demonstration, the AI agent constructed a real-time translation and subtitle tool from scratch on a Mac device using these autonomous functions.
Unlike Manus, which operates primarily as a subscription service, rival platform OpenClaw—developed last year by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger—offers similar AI automation to users at no cost under an MIT open-source license.
Manus preserves its previous integrations with online utilities such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and selected third-party services, now adding deeper desktop functionality to merge cloud and local operations.
However, increased AI access to users’ devices has raised concerns around privacy and security. To mitigate these risks, Manus includes a permissions system, requiring users to approve each new command or designate specific functions as trusted so they can run automatically.
