The artificial intelligence landscape has shifted. For years, we focused on generation—chatbots that could write poems or summarize emails. In 2026, the focus has moved to execution. We have entered the era of General AI Agents.
Following Meta’s landmark acquisition of Manus AI in late 2025, the market has exploded. But what is a general AI agent? How is it different from a chatbot? And with Meta absorbing the market leader, what are the best alternatives for enterprise?
This comprehensive guide serves as your roadmap. We will break down the technology, the major players (including Kortix, Genspark, and Blackbox), and answer the most pressing questions about the future of work.
Table of Contents
- Definition: What is a General AI Agent? (vs. Chatbot)
- Market Shift: Why Did Meta Acquire Manus AI?
- The Landscape: Best General AI Agents in 2026
- Deep Dive: Kortix, Genspark, and Blackbox
- Safety & Ethics: Are AI Agents Safe to Use?
- FAQ: People Also Ask About AI Agents
1. What is a General AI Agent? (Agent vs. Chatbot)
One of the most common questions is: "What is the difference between an AI agent and a chatbot?"
Here is the simple answer: A chatbot talks; an agent acts.
- The Chatbot (e.g., ChatGPT-4, Llama 3): This is a Large Language Model (LLM). It predicts text based on your prompt. It can write a plan for booking a flight, but it cannot access the airline's website to click "Buy."
- The General AI Agent (e.g., Manus, Kortix): This is an LLM equipped with a sandbox environment. It has "hands" (usually a headless browser or API access) that allow it to perform multi-step tasks asynchronously.
If you ask a chatbot to "Research competitors," it gives you a list based on its training data. If you ask an Agent, it opens a web browser, visits the competitors' sites, screenshots their pricing pages, and compiles a fresh report.
2. Why Did Meta Acquire Manus AI?
In December 2025, Meta acquired Manus AI for a reported $2-3 billion. This acquisition signaled the start of the "Agentic Wars."
Who owns Manus AI now?
Manus is now fully owned by Meta Platforms, Inc. The acquisition was driven by three strategic needs:
- Revenue: Manus had a working B2B subscription model that businesses were paying for.
- The "Super App" Vision: Meta intends to transform WhatsApp from a messaging app into a "Action App" where an AI agent can book appointments or order food for you.
- Talent Scarcity: By acquiring the team (originally linked to the Monica browser extension team), Meta secured top-tier engineering talent before geopolitical regulations could make cross-border hiring difficult.
3. The Landscape: Best General AI Agents in 2026
If you are asking, "What are the best alternatives to Manus AI?", the market is divided into three categories: Generalists, Researchers, and Coders.
Comparison Table: Top AI Agents
| Agent Name | Best For... | Key Feature | Pricing Model |
| Manus (Meta) | General Automation | Native Cloud Sandbox | Enterprise / Waitlist |
| Kortix | Enterprise / Privacy | Self-Hosted Option | Usage-based |
| Genspark | Deep Research | The "Sparkpage" Report | Freemium |
| Blackbox | Coding | VS Code "Auto Mode" | Subscription |
4. Deep Dive: Kortix, Genspark, and Blackbox
While Manus captures the headlines, these three companies are defining the utility of the Agentic Web.
Kortix: The "Open" Enterprise Alternative
Is Kortix open source?
Yes, Kortix creates open-source frameworks (like Suna) that allow companies to build agents on their own infrastructure.
- Why use it: If you are a bank or hospital, you cannot send your data to Meta's servers. Kortix allows you to run a "General Agent" inside your own private cloud (VPC). It excels at form-filling, data extraction, and repetitive web tasks.
Genspark: The Research Engine
How does Genspark work?
Genspark is distinct because it uses a "Mixture of Agents" approach. It doesn't just rely on one brain.
- The Workflow: When you ask a question, one agent acts as the "Researcher" (searching Google), another acts as the "Critic" (checking for bias), and a third acts as the "Editor."
- The Output: Instead of a chat bubble, Genspark generates a Sparkpage—a fully cited, standalone web page that summarizes the topic. It is the best tool for market research.
Blackbox AI: The Coding Specialist
Is Blackbox better than Devin?
For many developers, the answer is yes, due to speed and integration.
- The Feature: Blackbox integrates directly into VS Code. Its "Auto Mode" allows it to read your entire repository, understand your file structure, and push code changes automatically. While Devin acts as a separate engineer, Blackbox acts as a "Super-Plugin" for your existing workflow.
5. Safety & Ethics: Are AI Agents Safe to Use?
A frequent query in this space is: "What are the risks of AI agents?"
Because agents have "hands," the risks are higher than with chatbots.
- Prompt Injection: If an agent visits a malicious website, hidden text on that site could theoretically trick the agent into emailing your private data to a hacker.
- Infinite Loops: Poorly designed agents can get stuck in a loop (e.g., clicking "Next Page" forever), burning through expensive API credits.
Best Practice: Only use agents that operate in a Sandboxed Environment (like Manus or Kortix). This ensures that if the agent gets infected or confused, it cannot damage your actual computer.
6. FAQ: People Also Ask (PAA)
How much does a General AI Agent cost?
Most consumer agents (like Genspark or Perplexity) operate on a freemium model ($20/month for Pro). Enterprise agents (like Manus or Kortix) often charge based on "compute time" or "steps taken," which can range from $0.10 to $2.00 per complex task.
Is Manus AI available to the public?
Since the Meta acquisition in late 2025, new user signups for Manus have been paused as Meta integrates the technology into its own stack. Users looking for immediate access should look at Kortix or Adept.
Can AI agents replace software engineers?
Agents like Blackbox and Devin can automate 40-50% of routine coding tasks (testing, debugging, boilerplate). However, they currently lack the architectural judgment to replace senior engineers entirely. They are best viewed as "force multipliers."
What is the best AI agent for research?
Genspark is currently rated as the top agent for research because it cross-checks multiple sources and produces a cited report rather than just generating text.
