caroline bishop
February 23, 2026 21:36
Manas releases a 30-minute tutorial to build an AI email support agent without coding, tapping into a market expected to reach $53.3 billion by 2034.
Manus has released a step-by-step tutorial to help small business owners build an AI-powered customer support agent that integrates directly with Gmail, without any coding required. The company says the entire setup takes 30 minutes.
Timing is important. AI-driven customer support agents are one of the fastest-growing segments in the technology industry, with market forecasts for them to grow from $2.5 billion in 2024 to $53.3 billion by 2034, a compound annual growth rate of 35.8%.
How the system works
The Manus agent works on a draft and approval model rather than full automation. Twice a day, the AI checks your connected Gmail inbox for support emails and consults the knowledge base you’ve uploaded to draft answers tailored to your company’s tone. Importantly, humans retain final approval. Each response must be clicked once before being sent.
This hybrid approach addresses growing industry concerns. Gartner recently predicted that half of companies that cut AI jobs by 2026 will rehire them by 2027, suggesting that pure automation is not delivering on its promise. Customer tolerance for “halfway automation” remains low, driving vendors to scale rather than replace models.
Productivity calculation
Research in late 2025 shows that AI email agents can handle around 80% of routine inquiries and cut response times in half. Automating research and follow-up tasks typically increases productivity by 25-30%.
But there’s a catch. Recent industry analysis suggests that cost reduction should no longer be the primary motivator. The focus has shifted to reducing cognitive workload and ensuring reliability. Although this metric is harder to quantify, it is probably the more valuable metric for customer retention.
competitive environment
Manus enters a crowded field. Established players include Zendesk AI Email Support, Intercom’s Fin, Yellow.ai, and various no-code platforms such as Appy Pie Agents and MindStudio. Most companies offer similar visual builders and CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and standard helpdesk software.
Manus features a “vibe coding” angle. The company used its proprietary platform to build the tutorial website itself, positioning the email agent as a gateway to broader automation projects such as inventory tracking and sales reporting.
what’s next
The draft-and-approve model is a smart entry point for companies wary of fully autonomous customer communications. The question remains whether Manus can differentiate itself in an increasingly commoditized market. For small business owners drowning in support tickets, a 30-minute setup time at least lowers the bar to finding one.
Image source: Shutterstock
