Prime Highlights:
- Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, is joining OpenAI to help build the next generation of personal digital assistants.
- OpenClaw’s open-source tool will continue to grow within OpenAI, aiming to make digital agents more useful for businesses and everyday users.
Key Facts:
- OpenClaw can complete tasks on its own, such as managing emails and using online services, and is already popular in China with local apps.
- Competitors like Google, Meta, and Anthropic are also expanding teams and products, increasing competition in the tech market.
Background:
OpenAI has announced that Austrian software developer Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw, is joining the company to develop the next generation of personal AI agents.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the popular open-source AI tool will continue as a project within the company’s foundation, while also becoming an integral part of OpenAI’s product offerings.
OpenClaw, previously called Clawdbot and Moltbot, launched just last month and quickly gained global attention. The agent can complete tasks on its own, such as managing emails, using online services, and making decisions for users without constant supervision. Its fast use, including in China with local apps, shows people want smart, independent digital assistants.
Altman praised Steinberger as “a genius with many innovative ideas about smart agents interacting to deliver useful solutions for people.” OpenAI’s move to hire him reflects the broader industry trend of aggressively acquiring top AI talent. In recent months, OpenAI spent over $6 billion to buy the startup io, founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive.
Google, Meta, and Anthropic are growing their teams and improving products, increasing competition. OpenClaw is flexible but can have security risks. OpenAI will use Steinberger’s skills to make it more useful for everyone.
With OpenClaw and Steinberger on board, OpenAI expects these tools to become an important part of its services, helping people and companies complete tasks more easily while supporting new digital innovations.