On September 28, 2026, Butterfly Effect (Manus) released Manus 2.0 for overseas users, alongside Cue, a standalone personal assistant app. The company said it is building a team to develop products for the domestic China market and is working with domestic model providers and ecosystem partners.
This is Manus's first major version update since it announced a return to independent operation on September 1.
The Cascade Framework: Efficiency Numbers With Limits
The core technical upgrade in Manus 2.0 is Cascade, a self-developed agent framework. The company says it keeps projects lightweight from the start and only invokes specialized capabilities when a task genuinely requires them.
The published figures: in one tested configuration, Cascade reduced token consumption by 23.2%, task completion time by 28.2%, and operating cost by 32% compared with the previous system.
Those numbers carry a qualification. Manus describes them as coming from “one tested configuration,” without publishing the benchmark dataset, sample size, or control parameters. The efficiency gains may come from a specific optimized scenario rather than general performance. For usage-billed users, the actual reduction in their bill requires independent verification.
Cue: Giving Every Agent an Identity
Cue is the most differentiated part of the Manus 2.0 release. It is a standalone app supporting mobile and desktop (the iOS version is pending App Store review), sharing the same infrastructure as Manus.
The core design: each agent has its own email, phone number, wallet, and computer. These give the agent the complete set of conditions needed to execute tasks — contacting the other party, confirming information, completing payment.
In the company's demonstration, a Cue agent answered a call from a dental clinic and rescheduled an appointment. It helped order food or join a queue after scanning a restaurant code. It completed payments within a user-set budget. After the call, the agent left a summary in Cue.
Multiple agents can join the same group chat and divide work toward a shared goal. In a demonstration preparing a New York launch event, different agents researched venues, compiled candidate lists, and drafted presentations, with the user setting direction and making final decisions.
Cue is in early access, free with an invite code. Manus published the code MEETCUE in its announcement, limited to the first 1,000 users.
Studio Turns the Desktop Into a Workshop
Manus 2.0 upgrades the desktop app into Manus Studio, positioned as a shared workspace between humans and AI.
The new video editor targets 30- to 60-second product ads, AI UGC, data charts, and vlogs. Users can adjust timelines, swap assets and soundtracks, or hand the project back to Manus for further edits.
The game development environment calls on video, image, and coding models. Users can start from a template, modify code and adjust scenes in the editing panel, then publish as a website or set up multiplayer through the cloud computer.
The cloud computer feature lets users purchase a dedicated runtime for multiplayer game servers or long-running automation. Projects stay online after the user closes their laptop.
Automation expands from scheduled tasks to event triggers. New emails, ad data fluctuations, calendar events, Slack messages, and Notion updates can all trigger Manus to run preset workflows.
The Head-On Meeting With Meta Muse
Cue's launch puts Manus in direct competition with Meta Muse. Meta's Muse topped the US App Store after its September 8 launch, with the same core capability: letting an agent execute tasks across apps. Meta's hardware play is the Muse Charm, a handheld device giving the agent a physical entry point.
Manus takes a different path. Cue has no hardware of its own, but it gives each agent communication and payment capabilities. Meta Muse distributes through a social ecosystem; Manus differentiates by giving agents independent identities.
The common ground: personal agents are moving from “answering questions” to “doing things for you.” The difference is who controls the execution conditions — Meta controls the distribution channel, while Manus tries to let the agent own its execution tools.
P.S. Manus's efficiency figures come from its own testing and do not directly equal the reduction in a user's bill. Cue's iOS version is still awaiting App Store review, and no timeline has been disclosed for the China release. Less than a month after returning to independent operation on September 1, Manus shipped version 2.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Manus release?
A: On September 28, Manus released version 2.0 for overseas users, with the Cascade agent framework and a standalone personal assistant app called Cue.
Q: What is Cue?
A: A standalone app where each agent has its own email, phone number, wallet, and computer, allowing it to answer calls, reschedule appointments, and pay within a user-set budget. It is in early access with an invite code.
Q: What are the efficiency claims?
A: Manus says Cascade reduced token consumption by 23.2%, task time by 28.2%, and operating cost by 32% in one tested configuration. The benchmark details and sample size were not published.
Q: How does this compete with Meta Muse?
A: Both let agents execute tasks across apps. Meta Muse distributes through Meta's social ecosystem and the Charm hardware; Manus gives each agent independent communication and payment tools instead.
Q: When will it be available in China?
A: Manus says it is building a team for the domestic China market and working with domestic model providers. No timeline has been disclosed.
