Weekly Newsletter - Everyone is talking about Manus!

Hi there, welcome to this week’s update!

In just the last four weeks, a new trend has exploded: vibe coding. People with zero coding experience are building apps effortlessly. Thanks to tools like Trae by ByteDance, Cursor AI, and Lovable AI, anyone can create applications that feel intuitive and dynamic. This shift is breaking down barriers, making AI app development more accessible than ever. Here’s what else you need to know this week:

In today’s AI for the 9 to 5:

• 📈 Manus, the Chinese AI Agent that everyone is talking about

• 🎤 Sesame, new AI voice to cross ‘uncanny valley’

• 🏢 Google Gemini now remembers your searches

• 📚 Build Your Own App in Minutes—No Code and Free!

• 🖼️ Napkin AI: Visual AI for Business Storytelling

🚀 Manus, the Chinese AI Agent that everyone is talking about

What you need to know:

Manus AI, a rising player in enterprise automation, just secured $25M in funding to expand its AI-powered workflow automation tools. The company is developing autonomous agents capable of handling repetitive business tasks—think scheduling, expense approvals, and client follow-ups.

Why it matters:

If your job involves repetitive admin work, AI like Manus could save you hours of manual effort. In a recent demo, Manus showcased its ability to autonomously manage:

✅ Resume Screening
✅ Property Research
✅ Complex Stock Analysis

With AI agents like Manus, the future of work is looking a lot more automated.

🎤 Sesame, new AI voice to cross ‘uncanny valley’

The breakdown:

Oculus co-founder’s new startup, Sesame, just unveiled what might be the most realistic AI voice tech yet. Designed to understand emotions, mimic natural speech patterns, and respond with genuine expression, Sesame aims to finally bridge the gap between AI and human-like conversation.

Why it matters:

If AI voices felt robotic before, Sesame changes the game—making virtual assistants, audiobooks, and customer interactions more lifelike than ever.

I spoke to Myles and you can speak to him too

🏢 Google Gemini now remembers your searches

The breakdown:

Google is rolling out a new experimental feature in Gemini that personalizes AI responses by referencing users Google Search history to make AI assistance more relevant past searches

Why it matters:

Google is bringing AI-powered search assistance to a new level by making Gemini context-aware. By tapping into your search history, it can provide relevant recommendations based on what you’ve looked for. This shift is a step toward AI-driven, personalized search experiences that could redefine how users interact with Google’s ecosystem.

📚 Build Your Own App in Minutes—No Code and Free!

The What?

I’m heading on a surfing trip next week, and since I’m a total newbie, I wanted to learn the basics before I hit the waves. Instead of just watching videos, I decided to build my own learning app to make the process more engaging.

The How?

I used Lovable, a no-code platform that lets you create apps in minutes—no tech skills needed. The possibilities are endless, and in this case, I built a surfing fundamentals app to help me get up to speed before I even touch a board. 🌊

Who knows? Maybe this will be my secret weapon for catching my first wave! 🏄‍♂️💡

Create the app with me

🏢 Napkin AI: Visual AI for Business Storytelling

Last week, I used Napkin AI to explain AI-powered app development to my team. Instead of long docs, I turned key concepts into clear visuals, making it easier to show how we could automate workflows. In seconds, Napkin AI transformed my ideas into something everyone could grasp—quick, effective, and no design skills needed.