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While Manus AI is working through your request, it’ll dynamically show small thumbnails of what it’s doing.
Behind this Bite
You obviously can't see the detail of what's happening, but it's just enough that you can work out when it's looking at a webpage (for example).
This helps both build confidence in what it's doing, and makes the wait more bearable.
AI insights
Insights
Doherty Threshold shows that people lose interest if they wait too long. Manus' tiny AI thumbnails help users feel like progress is happening, so the wait feels shorter and less boring.
Labour Illusion is when showing visible 'work' boosts trust. The thumbnails in Manus make users believe the AI is actively working, which builds confidence in the process.
Cognitive Drift is when attention drops if nothing changes. The dynamic thumbnails give users something to watch, which helps keep their focus during the wait.
Notion uses animated AI icons to show tasks in progress. Both Manus and Notion use small, lively visuals to make waiting feel more interactive and less frustrating.
ChatGPT shows instant results by auto-loading prompts. Both ChatGPT and Manus turn passive waiting into an active, visual moment, so users see clear proof that something is happening.
Impacts:
UI Components:
Posted 04/09/2025
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