A wave of excitement, curiosity, and a dash of skepticism swept through tech circles on X this week after OpenAI unveiled its new AI Agents Software Development Kit (SDK) on March 11, 2025.

This kit is a set of user-friendly tools that let developers create smart, autonomous AI “agents”—think virtual assistants or bots that can handle tasks like browsing the web, managing files, or even controlling a computer on their own. Some are calling it a “game changer,” while others aren’t so sure, sparking a flood of reactions from developers, tech fans, and casual observers on X.

According to recent analytics, the post about the SDK racked up over 15,000 likes, 3,200 retweets, and 1,800 replies in just 48 hours, showing how much attention it attracted—OpenAI’s global user base, now at 180.5 million, has seen a 25% jump in engagement on AI topics since early 2024, per OpenAI stats reported by Enterprise Apps Today.

The excitement started when @mysticaltech, under the handle “The Canaanite,” asked, “Is it a LangGraph killer?”—wondering if OpenAI’s SDK could outshine a rival AI tool, kicking off a thread that exploded with reactions. Even without details in the initial post, it hinted that OpenAI’s SDK could shake up the $50 billion AI development industry, projected to grow by 2027, with OpenAI’s release grabbing 40% more developer attention than similar launches from competitors this past year, according to sdk.vercel.ai.

This launch comes amid fierce competition, notably with Manus AI, a Chinese-developed autonomous AI agent unveiled earlier in 2025. Manus AI, as reported by eWeek, claims to outperform OpenAI in early benchmarks, scoring higher on the GAIA benchmark across all difficulty levels: 86.5% vs. OpenAI’s 74.3% at Level 1, 70.1% vs. 69.1% at Level 2, and 57.7% vs. 47.6% at Level 3. Manus operates independently, handling tasks like sourcing suppliers, mapping customers, and planning travel without step-by-step human instructions, positioning it as a direct rival to OpenAI’s agent technology. However, Manus is currently in an invitation-only preview with no public release date, while OpenAI’s SDK is already open-source and accessible to developers. The comparison fuels debate: Can OpenAI’s SDK, with its focus on developer-friendly tools and multi-agent orchestration, reclaim the lead, or will Manus’s reported performance edge shift the balance in AI agent innovation?

At the San Francisco hack night hosted by Alex Reibman with OpenAI and AgentOpsAI, developers showcased seven exciting projects using the SDK, giving a glimpse into its potential and why it matters:

  1. Bansky AI: A computer-use agent that acts like a self-taught AI artist, drawing art on an HTML canvas. It demonstrates how the SDK can enable creative, autonomous AI applications, potentially rivaling Manus’s ability to generate educational materials or analyze data independently. Experimented by @@Jandodev.
  2. Touch Grass: An agent that checks the current time and location to recommend nearby nature spots. This shows the SDK’s practical, everyday use, contrasting with Manus’s broader B2B focus but highlighting OpenAI’s emphasis on user-friendly, real-world solutions. Experimented by @vacheishvilin.
  3. Real Estate Agent: Powered by OpenAI’s web search, this agent finds apartments for rent online, suggesting AI could replace human agents—a capability Manus also claims with its property research functions, though OpenAI’s SDK makes it easier for developers to build and customize such tools. Experimented by @vacheishvilin.
  4. Memory Agent: This connects the SDK with an AI Compass wearable to analyze daily life patterns, memories, and struggles, acting like a “second brain.” It showcases advanced personalization, a step beyond Manus’s current reported use cases but aligning with the trend of autonomous, learning AI agents. Experimented by @hackwithzach @fieldyai.
  5. Agent Polling Simulator: A swarm of AI agents simulates different political personas to predict responses to policies or news, offering a research tool for social sciences. This highlights the SDK’s ability to handle complex, multi-agent systems, potentially outpacing Manus’s simpler task automation in scope. Experimented by @SirvenJose.
  6. Salary Seeker: Using AI agents to scrape Glassdoor via RapidAPI, this project creates specialized salary queries. It shows the SDK’s data-handling power, competing with Manus’s stock analysis and resume screening by offering customizable, developer-driven solutions. Experimented by @AlexReibman
  7. Multi-Agent Brainstormer: This links brainstorming agents with evaluators to develop cohesive strategies for any goal. It underscores the SDK’s strength in orchestrating multiple agents, a feature Manus hasn’t publicly detailed but could challenge if its autonomy scales similarly. Experimented by @dazzagreenwood.

By March 12, the hype was in high gear. Colby Hawker (@ColbyHawker) noted, “The purple backlighting just adds, doesn’t it?”—referring to the stylish hack night photos—while @unchained_ninja shouted “Fireeeee!!” and Anfal Mushtaq (@AnfalMushtaq) said, “This is neat.” Users like @prince_a_dada and @aaliya_va called it “huge” and “exciting!”

Data from X Insights shows 82% of tech users aged 25-34—the group making up 60% of OpenAI’s traffic, per OpenAI’s 2024 reports—felt positive, though 18% of seasoned developers questioned if it was just basic AI tech. This SDK’s importance lies in making AI agents more accessible and powerful, potentially countering Manus AI’s performance claims while sparking debate about who’s leading the AI agent race in 2025.