Google restricts Antigravity users tied to suspicious OpenClaw behaviour

Google has taken action to restrict access for certain users of its AI coding assistant, Antigravity, particularly those subscribed to Gemini AI Ultra. These users were found to be utilizing Gemini AI models through accounts associated with the open-source coding framework, OpenClaw. Reports indicate that some users violated Google's policies, engaging in potentially harmful, abusive, or unauthorized activities. The decision has sparked a heated debate among Gemini users regarding the autonomy companies have in determining access to their tools. Given that AI applications have become integral to tasks like coding, research, and business operations, such restrictions could significantly impact user productivity. Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, publicly criticized Google's move, labeling it as "draconian" in a recent post on X. He expressed concerns over the implications for Antigravity users, stating, "Be careful out there if you use Antigravity. I guess I'll remove support. Even Anthropic pings me and is nice about issues. Google just... bans?" In contrast, Varun Mohan, a former CEO of Windsurf and Google DeepMind engineer, noted in his own X post that there has been a notable rise in malicious usage of the Antigravity backend, which has severely affected service quality for legitimate users. He explained that the restrictions targeting OpenClaw users were necessary due to misuse of the platform. "We needed to find a path to quickly shut off access to these users that are not using the product as intended," Mohan stated. He acknowledged that some users might not have been aware of the violation but emphasized the need for fairness to actual users. In a related context, Anthropic has also updated its consumer terms to prohibit OAuth tokens in external tools, including OpenClaw. This scrutiny of the AI tool stems from concerns about security risks associated with the open-source framework. Despite these controversies, Peter Steinberger's expertise remains in demand, as evidenced by OpenAI's decision to hire him. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed confidence in Steinberger's ability to lead advancements in personal AI agents, underscoring the value placed on his technical skills in shaping the future of AI systems.