AI Bot Farms Under Single-Agent Control: How Autonomous Systems Shape and Impose Public Narratives

In early April 2026, a short video went viral on X (formerly Twitter), prompting many social media users to look at their familiar feeds through a new lens. The computer screen displays a dense grid of dozens of virtual smartphones. Each "phone" shows the interface of popular platforms such as X, WeChat, and other messaging apps. Account numbers range from 01 to 50 and beyond. As the camera slowly pans across the monitor, the windows update in real-time, displaying new posts, likes, comments, and scrolling feeds. There isn't a single mouse click or human command. Everything is driven by an autonomous AI agent called Manus.

Within hours, the video amassed hundreds of thousands of views. The demonstration is simple yet chillingly effective: a single AI simultaneously manages fifty accounts, publishing content, engaging with audiences, and maintaining activity 24/7. No breaks and no fatigue—only algorithms and virtual emulators.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna quoted one of the videos, first on her personal account and then on her official one. "Beware of psyop bot farms," she wrote in the first post. In the second, she added: "Foreign intelligence operations are running bot farms to flood feeds and manipulate narratives. This is modern warfare. Be vigilant, do not fall for the lies."

Luna, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is no stranger to discussing the risks of information influence. Her comments immediately amplified the public's response. The discussion shifted from a technical novelty to how such tools could be used for mass disinformation, artificial trend inflation, or influencing public opinion ahead of elections.

Manus AI was developed by the Chinese startup Monica and later acquired by Meta. The agent is positioned as a universal task executor, handling everything from topic research to routine automation. The 50-account demonstration serves as a striking example of its capabilities. The technology itself isn't new; various companies are already testing similar multi-agent systems. However, it was this specific clip that acted as a catalyst for public debate.

Experts point out that the lines between real users and automated accounts are blurring. Average social media users are increasingly unable to distinguish a human post from one generated by AI. When thousands of these "human-like" accounts work in concert, the perception of public opinion becomes distorted.

There is currently no confirmed evidence that Manus specifically is being utilized by foreign intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, the warning from the American politician reflects a growing concern among governments worldwide. In an era where algorithms dictate what we see first, autonomous AI agents are emerging as a new tool for influence. The primary question is no longer "how it works," but "who is using it and for what purpose."

As the technology continues to evolve, users are left with only one option: to critically evaluate content and remember that behind a vibrant post, there may not be a person, but an intelligent program that never sleeps.