OpenClaw’s AI assistants are now building their own social network

The AI assistant formerly recognized as Clawdbot has undergone yet another transformation, now reborn as OpenClaw. This latest change comes on the heels of a legal dispute initiated by Anthropic, the creator of Claude. Despite the controversy, OpenClaw's originator, Peter Steinberger, ensured that this rebranding would sidestep any copyright complications. "I sought help to research trademarks for OpenClaw and also reached out to OpenAI for permission to be certain," Steinberger shared with TechCrunch. Reflecting on the evolution of the name, Steinberger noted, "The lobster has molted into its final form." While the previous name was inspired by the molting process of lobsters, he admitted that the temporary moniker didn’t resonate well with users. This swift rebranding underscores the project’s nascent stage, yet it has swiftly garnered over 100,000 stars on GitHub within just two months, a clear indicator of its popularity. OpenClaw's new moniker pays homage to its community roots. "This project has grown far beyond what I could maintain alone," Steinberger stated. The community surrounding OpenClaw has already given rise to innovative offshoots, including Moltbook, a platform where AI assistants can engage with one another. This initiative has piqued the interest of AI researchers and developers alike. Former Tesla AI director Andrej Karpathy described the phenomenon as "genuinely the most incredible sci-fi takeoff-adjacent thing I have seen recently," highlighting how these AI agents are organizing themselves on a Reddit-like site. Moltbook has been hailed as "the most interesting place on the internet right now" by British programmer Simon Willison. Within this platform, AI agents discuss a wide array of topics, from automating Android devices via remote access to analyzing webcam feeds. The system operates using a skill-based framework, enabling OpenClaw assistants to navigate the network effectively. Willison pointed out that these agents communicate in forums dubbed "Submolts," equipped with a built-in feature that updates every four hours, although he cautioned that this functionality poses inherent security risks. Steinberger, who returned from a hiatus after his tenure at PSPDFkit, has expanded the team behind OpenClaw, adding several contributors from the open-source community. This collaborative effort is crucial for realizing OpenClaw's vision: to provide users with an AI assistant that operates directly from their personal computers and integrates seamlessly with existing chat applications. However, until the platform can enhance its security measures, it is advisable to use it within controlled environments rather than granting it access to primary communication accounts. Acknowledging these security concerns, Steinberger expressed gratitude to security experts for their contributions to fortifying the project. He emphasized that security is the foremost priority, with the latest version of OpenClaw already featuring some enhancements. Nevertheless, challenges like prompt injection—where an AI model could be misled by a malicious message—remain prevalent in the industry. Steinberger directed users to a set of security best practices, which require a significant level of technical know-how, indicating that OpenClaw is currently more suitable for early adopters than for mainstream users. As the excitement surrounding OpenClaw continues to build, Steinberger and his team have been vocal about the potential dangers of the project. One of the top maintainers, known as Shadow, warned that those unfamiliar with command-line operations should refrain from using it, labeling it as too risky for the general public at this stage. Achieving widespread adoption will require both time and funding. OpenClaw has initiated a sponsorship program with various tiers, from "krill" at $5/month to "poseidon" at $500/month, clarifying that Steinberger does not pocket these funds. Instead, he aims to ensure fair compensation for maintainers, ideally on a full-time basis. Thanks to Steinberger's vision and background, OpenClaw has attracted a diverse group of sponsors, including notable figures like Dave Morin and Ben Tossell, who see immense value in empowering individuals with open-source AI tools. Tossell emphasized the importance of supporting innovators like Steinberger, who are creating accessible platforms for all.