Search interest for ‘AI agents’ skyrocketed in March 2025, facilitating a total 900% increase in demand in the last 12 months, according to Google Trends data analysed by Finbold research.
By March 9, the ‘score’ hit 100 – the highest possible number – with most traffic concentrated in East Asia. China is decisively at the top spot in terms of demand, as its score is also at the maximum 100, while Singapore’s – the second on the list – stands at 21.
Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan – ranked third, fourth, and fifth – are between 10 and 14.
Elsewhere, the so-called collective West is notable in its absence not only from the top five places with the highest volume but also from the top ten as West and South Asian nations dominate the remaining spots.
Why China is dominating AI agents search trend
Given that the root cause for the uptick in global search volume is a new platform developed by a Chinese firm – the Manus AI agent – the traffic distribution appears natural as it indicates a gradual spread from the People’s Republic and among its neighbors and close partners.
Furthermore, despite the product appearing highly disruptive as the Silicon Valley has no comparable technology, Manus is not yet available to the general public, only reinforcing the traditional mistrust for Chinese products prevalent in the West.
Despite this, the dynamic could change quickly. DeepSeek’s R1 already established that the East Asian country has, at least in some areas, either achieved technological parity or even risen to the bleeding edge.
Why Manus AI agent is likely to rise in prominence worldwide
Manus itself is reportedly revolutionary, thanks to its ability to complete complex tasks with minimal user input. It uses a variety of subagents to either provide the knowledge base or execute smaller processes.
As Andreja Stojanovic, a co-author of the research, pointed out:
“Most currently available artificial intelligence falls roughly within the AI assistant category, meaning its operations depend on the constant influx of user prompts. Such platforms can assist with tasks but can only complete basic work. AI agents, on the other hand, are supposed to be able to complete complex work with only minimal input, essentially replacing certain workers rather than helping them.”
Still, it is likely that not all search interest in AI agents will be positive, as the new technology opens the genuine possibility that workers will not be aided but replaced by artificial intelligence products – a long-feared vision of the second machine age.
