How China is getting everyone on OpenClaw, from gear heads to grandmas

China is making significant strides in the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, with major technology companies leading the charge to introduce OpenClaw, an increasingly popular personal digital assistant, to the masses. At a recent event in Beijing hosted by Baidu, hundreds of eager individuals, including new user Gong Sheng, lined up to have OpenClaw installed on their devices. "I don't want to be left behind," he remarked, highlighting the tool's growing presence among his peers. Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang recently described OpenClaw as "definitely the next ChatGPT," a sentiment echoed throughout China as the AI assistant, originally developed by Peter Steinberger, gains traction. Known informally as "raising a lobster" in jest, OpenClaw events have become commonplace, drawing diverse crowds from retirees to students, eager to integrate the technology into their daily lives. Koki Xu, a legal professional, expressed the excitement surrounding OpenClaw during a packed meet-up, stating, "OpenClaw has become really hot!" Notably, China has outpaced the United States in OpenClaw adoption, according to the cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard. The AI assistant's capabilities are vast, allowing users to conduct online searches, purchase tickets, and manage other bots seamlessly. Wang Xiaoyan, an aspiring entrepreneur, shared her experience using OpenClaw to launch what is being termed a "one-person company" or OPC. "Human employees need rest, but OpenClaw can run 24/7," she explained, reflecting the tool's potential in transforming the business landscape. This surge in interest aligns with the Chinese government's vision to integrate AI into 90% of industries and society by 2030, as outlined in a strategic blueprint released last summer. Tom van Dillen, a managing partner at Greenkern, noted that the rise of OPCs is inextricably linked to OpenClaw, facilitating the automation of various business functions, including marketing and finance. In a bid to further stimulate this transformation, local governments are incentivizing companies to develop applications using OpenClaw. Huang Dongxu, co-founder of PingCAP, emphasized the role of government support in motivating major corporations like Tencent and Alibaba to enhance the platform for everyday users. However, as OpenClaw gains popularity, authorities have begun to issue warnings regarding potential security and data risks. Government agencies and firms in sensitive sectors, such as banking, have been instructed to limit their use of the AI assistant. New user Gong Zheng voiced concerns about the tool's transparency, stating, "It's hard for us regular people to know what access we have given it and what it has taken."