Sam Altman says he used an OpenClaw agent to fix an 'unpleasant' daily task

In a recent discussion with Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared an intriguing solution to a daily hurdle he faced: managing his morning influx of messages. Describing the task as 'unpleasant', Altman unveiled how he leveraged an AI system known as OpenClaw to streamline his communication. OpenClaw is designed to automate actions across various applications, and Altman expressed that creating this app was something he had long desired. He remarked, 'It's like this very unpleasant task to wake up in the morning and have to go through all this stuff.' By utilizing this innovative tool, he finally found a way to automate what had previously been a cumbersome routine. While Altman did not provide specific details on how OpenClaw operates or its methods for responding to his messages, he characterized the experience as a significant breakthrough in his daily workflow. He called it one of his biggest 'magic AGI moments' and noted that the capabilities of OpenClaw exceeded his expectations. OpenClaw represents a notable advancement in AI technology, distinguishing itself from traditional chatbots that primarily focus on text generation. This newer breed of AI agents is capable of executing tasks across multiple platforms, such as sorting messages, drafting responses, and prioritizing important information. The system has already attracted considerable attention at OpenAI, especially following the hiring of its creator, Peter Steinberger, earlier this year. As OpenAI delves deeper into agentic technology, Altman has also rebuilt his messaging system using Codex, OpenAI's code generation model, and is exploring similar AI tools for various purposes, including home automation. His insights come amidst a competitive landscape where leading AI companies are striving to enhance their systems' capabilities for independent planning and task execution. Recently, Altman noted the impressive versatility of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-5.5, which has been employed for a range of creative tasks, including generating ideas for events such as product launch parties.