My Computer by Manus AI
The Desktop Agent That Turns Your Machine Into an Autonomous Worker
"My Computer" by Manus AI is the definitive breakthrough for power users and developers who need to bridge cloud AI intelligence with local desktop execution.
Why we love it
- Unprecedented direct access to local CLI tools and file systems
- Breaks out of the browser to execute dynamic multi-step GUI interactions
- Maintains absolute user control with an instant execution stop capability
Things to know
- Raises significant enterprise data security and local privacy concerns
- The proprietary credit system depletes extremely fast on complex loops
- Heavy reliance on a continuous internet connection for the cloud reasoning layer
About
Executive Summary: "My Computer" is the flagship desktop capability of Manus AI (now acquired by Meta), designed to bring autonomous workflow execution directly to local machines. Targeted at developers and knowledge workers, it breaks the cloud barrier by allowing the agent to read local files, execute terminal commands, and operate GUI applications without human intervention.
Unlike traditional cloud chatbots, "My Computer" leverages a local lightweight client paired with Meta's cloud reasoning to establish a "see, think, act" loop. The agent takes real-time screenshots, understands the screen dynamically, and controls the mouse and keyboard to complete complex, multi-step tasks. My Computer by Manus AI offers a Freemium plan, with paid tiers starting at $20.00. It is More expensive than average for this category. From organizing massive local photo libraries to autonomously building and packaging software via local CLI tools, it effectively transforms any macOS or Windows machine into a proactive digital workforce.
Key Features
- ✓Operate natively on macOS and Windows via a dedicated lightweight client
- ✓Control the mouse and keyboard dynamically to execute cross-application GUI tasks
- ✓Execute terminal and CLI commands to build, run, and manage software projects locally
- ✓Organize, rename, and tag massive local file directories without human oversight
- ✓Utilize idle machine hardware for background jobs and remote task execution
Product Comparison
| Dimension | My Computer by Manus | OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|
| Core Use Case | Advanced multi-step GUI & CLI automation | Free, truly private local task execution |
| Execution Environment | Local hardware + Cloud reasoning | 100% Local hardware (No cloud required) |
| Starting Price | $20.00 / month (Credit-based) | Completely Free (Open Source) |
| Data Privacy | Screenshots sent to cloud (Enterprise risk) | Data never leaves your machine |
| GUI Interaction Quality | Superior dynamic screen parsing | Basic/Emerging UI interaction |
Frequently Asked Questions
While OpenClaw provides a completely free, open-source environment that runs models entirely on your own hardware without API costs, My Computer boasts an absolute advantage in ease of use and GUI automation by seamlessly connecting Meta's superior cloud reasoning to your local machine.
Granting Manus access to your terminal and GUI presents significant risks, as it indexes local files and transmits screen data to cloud servers. While it includes an instant "stop" button, enterprises are currently wary of the architecture due to the potential leakage of proprietary code.
Yes, there is a free tier providing roughly 5 days' worth of trial credits. Paid subscriptions start at $20.00/month for 4,000 credits. However, users report that complex CLI tasks and deep loops can rapidly deplete a $40 or $80 tier in just a few hours.
No, it cannot. While the agent executes actions locally, the 'brain' requires a constant internet connection to relay screenshots back to Meta’s cloud infrastructure, where the heavy LLM reasoning occurs before sending commands back to your machine.
Developers frequently note that Manus struggles to inherit full system PATH variables on launch. Workarounds currently require instructing the agent to explicitly source your shell profile (e.g., .zshrc or .bashrc) before running build tools like Node or Python.
Yes. A key feature of the desktop app is its ability to run jobs in the background and leverage your machine's idle compute resources. It can optimize heavy data tasks locally, though users must monitor resource spiking during intensive workflows.