OpenAI has hired the developer behind AI agent OpenClaw

Source: Engadget

Background

Recently we were introduced to OpenClaw, an AI platform that lets users create their own agents to control apps such as email, Spotify, and home‑automation systems.

OpenAI acquisition

Sam Altman announced that OpenAI has absorbed OpenClaw by hiring developer Peter Steinberger “to drive the next generation of personal agents,” a statement he posted on X here. Steinberger confirmed the news on his own blog:

“I’m joining OpenAI to work on bringing agents to everyone. OpenClaw will move to a foundation and stay open and independent.”

Industry reaction

Steinberger was also in talks with Meta, with both companies reportedly making offers in the “billions,” according to Implicator.AI report. The primary attractant was said to be OpenClaw’s 196 k GitHub stars and 2 M weekly visitors, rather than its codebase.

OpenClaw capabilities

OpenClaw gained attention for its multifaceted ability to carry out tasks. Users have built agents that can:

• Write code – see an example here
• Clear inboxes
• Perform online shopping
• Act as general assistants

Its official website highlights integration with popular apps and services, including WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Hue, and Spotify.

Naming controversy

OpenClaw was briefly called “Clawdbot,” but Anthropic prompted a name change due to similarity with its “Claude” branding see the exchange. The platform is often compared to Claude Code in discussions among “vibe coders” seeking to automate web development and other programming chores comparison.

Future outlook

In his announcement, Altman said:

“The future is going to be extremely multi‑agent and it’s important to support open source as part of that.”

He added that OpenClaw will live in a foundation as an open‑source project supported by OpenAI. Steinberger echoed this vision:

“What I want is to change the world, not build a larger company, and teaming up with OpenAI is the fastest way to bring this to everyone.”