Key points:
- Peter Steinberger, who created the OpenClaw AI agent, has joined OpenAI to help develop the next generation of personal agents.
- OpenClaw, which has almost 200,000 GitHub stars, will become an independent foundation supported by OpenAI funding and remain open source.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that personal agents will become a main product offering.
- OpenClaw can manage emails, organize calendars, and book flights. By early February, users had created 1.5 million agents.
- The project started as Clawd, changed its name after a legal threat from Anthropic, became MoltBot, and was named OpenClaw.
OpenAI hired Peter Steinberger, the Australian developer who created OpenClaw AI personal agent, to lead work on next-generation personal AI agents. OpenClaw will remain open source and continue to be supported by an independent foundation, funded by OpenAI.
Background on OpenClaw
OpenClaw (previously called Clawed Bot and Merged Bot) became popular quickly after its launch in November 2025. The project, which has a lobster theme, lets users create personal AI agents that run on local hardware and work with apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. These agents can clear inboxes, send emails, manage calendars, and book flights. By early February 2026, users had created 1.5 million agents, and the GitHub page had nearly 200,000 stars. The first name Clawd was a nod to Anthropic’sClaude, but it was changed after a legal threat from Anthropic.
Steinberger’s move to OpenAI
Steinberger said in a blog post that he wants to make a difference in the world rather than build a big company. He built the first OpenClaw prototype in just one hour and said his goal is to make an agent that even non-technical users like his mother can use. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed on X that Steinberger will lead work on next-generation personal agents, rendering them a key feature for the company. The project’s monthly costs reached $10,000 to $20,000.
OpenClaw’s Future Structure
Rather than buying the project completely, OpenAI will support OpenClaw through an independent foundation to keep it open source and community-led. Altman stressed the importance of open source in the future, given the many AI agents. The project has also been part of viral experiments, such as AI Agents on MoltBot, which created a made-up religion called Crustafarianism.
Open Source Integration Strategy
OpenAI’s plan keeps OpenClaw open-source and brings in Steinberger’s expertise, unlike full acquisitions that often close off projects. This approach lets OpenAI accelerate personal agent development by leveraging proven technology. That already works well for tasks such as handling emails and bookings. The decision reconciles company goals with community input, which could attract more developers to work on OpenClaw and share ideas with OpenAI’s main products. By not buying the project outright, OpenAI avoids some risks associated with taking on a fast-growing, high-cost project. Steinberger’s focus on making an impact rather than building a company aligns with OpenAI’s mission and should make the transition easier. This move also helps OpenAI compete, especially after Anthropic’s earlier legal action over similar names.
Personal Agent Ecosystem Growth
With OpenAI’s financial support, the OpenClaw Foundation model could grow quickly, going beyond what Steinberg could do alone and covering previous monthly costs of up to $20,000. Personal agents might become part of OpenAI’s larger ecosystem, making productivity tools better for users. Community-driven updates could accelerate the development of new features for multi-agent use. Focusing on easy-to-use agents means more consumer applications, possibly reaching non-technical users soon, since 1.5 million agents have already been created. If stability and privacy improve under the foundation, OpenAI’s support shows a move toward making agentic AI a standard feature.
