In the world of immediacy and sensationalism in which we live, it is common to delve into social media and come across proclamations as emphatic as “the latest AI of the moment.” However, these statements are not always misguided shots toward fleeting targets. At times, they represent truly viral phenomena that manage to capture the attention of the entire digital community, as has been the case with OpenClaw (previously known as Moltbot until, quite literally, a few hours ago, and Clawdbot until three days ago), the AI agent with “hands” developed by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger.
OpenClaw is a free, open-source personal assistant that is installed locally (on your own computer) and is authorized to interact with your operating system, files, and applications. In fact, the slogan coined by OpenClaw is “The AI that truly gets things done.”
In contrast to other solutions, OpenClaw is proactive, which means it will not always wait for you to instruct it. It is able to clean your inbox, send emails, manage your calendar, book flights on your behalf, or send you a message via Telegram or WhatsApp to notify you of something or to request your permission to execute a task.
The logo of this AI agent features a friendly lobster; therefore, rather than “hands,” it would be more accurate to say that this AI has “claws” (claws in English). In fact, Steinberger presents a highly appropriate metaphor to explain his model, wherein the soft interior of the lobster represents the language model, while the robust shell symbolizes the local code (the runtime) that safeguards the system, ensuring that the AI’s commands are executed securely, in a structured and predictable manner within your computer.
OpenClaw is not the first notable project developed by Peter Steinberger. In 2011, Steinberger created PSPDFKit, a tool for developers that allowed them to manipulate and view PDFs. Initially, this solution operated within the iOS ecosystem and eventually expanded to Android, web, and desktop platforms. Currently, PSPDFKit has been renamed Nutrient and Peter Steinberger is no longer affiliated with the project.
After selling PSPDFKit, the developer decided to start anew and pursue a new programming concept that inspired him. This is how he ultimately developed Clawdbot, named in part in admiration of Claude, Anthropic’s AI, and not merely as a homage to lobsters (something that has ultimately proven to be more problematic than well-received).
As an AI agent, OpenClaw is not limited to running in a single space, platform, or browser tab; rather, it is able to interact with its environment in an active manner. It functions as a local execution agent since the software is installed on your own hardware (PC, Mac, or server), and is therefore capable of performing actions and interacting with your files, applications, and operating system.
Installation does require some technical knowledge, but its website provides the necessary instructions. In summary, you must first download OpenClaw to your device (available for Mac, Windows, or Linux), configure your API keys, and link it to your preferred messaging channel, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or Slack, among many others.
Once you have installed OpenClaw , your computer will function as a 24/7 server to which you may send remote commands from your mobile device. For example, you can instruct the AI “Find the contract in my downloads and send it by email,” or even use it to automate complex workflows in your browser. You should be aware that, since it is installed on your computer, OpenClaw will have full access to your folders and files. This grants it a so-called “infinite memory”, as it can consult any document stored on your hard drive, thus assisting you with day-to-day tasks with total accuracy.
Another noteworthy aspect of this AI agent is its proactivity. Thanks to its “heartbeat” engine, it will not wait for you to issue a command; it is capable of awakening on its own to provide you with a morning summary, alert you regarding business metrics, or execute scheduled tasks without human intervention. This feature underscores the need to be aware of the security risks associated with OpenClaw .
As recommended by Adrián Aira, CEO of Elev8 School, a secure way to try this AI agent is by installing it on a device you do not normally use and, of course, one that does not contain any sensitive work- or personal-related information. Additionally, be sure to install it as a new/guest user. In this way, you will prevent OpenClaw from accessing files stored on that secondary device, it will not have access to your browser passwords, and in the event it “hallucinates,” it will not be able to cause you serious problems.
You may have found it strange that an AI that has become so popular is risking losing the power of its positioning with not just one, but two sudden rebrandings. Well, everything has its reason.
The first name change (from Clawdbot to Moltbot) took place last Tuesday, January 27, for a classic reason: legal pressure. Let’s just say Anthropic didn’t take kindly to the phonetic similarity between their “Claude” and “Clawdbot.” And if comparisons are already said to be odious in general, imagine in a sector as competitive as artificial intelligence.
The outcome was explained by Peter Steinberger himself on his Twitter account: “Anthropic forced me to change the account name. It wasn’t my decision.” And since Clawdbot had to “molt” into a new shell, the new name was more than clear: Moltbot. This was decided during a “chaotic brainstorming session on Discord at 5 in the morning with the community,” as explained on the AI company’s blog.
However, it seems that after letting the idea sit for a few days, Moltbot didn’t quite click. So Steinberger decided to carry out a second rebranding and introduce OpenClaw, a name that accurately describes the project:
Likewise, Steinberger has also taken the opportunity to introduce a series of new features to round out the service and reward its users:
We trust that this will be the definitive name for this artificial lobster—or at least that it will be the last change for a long, long time.
Photo: Canva
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