OpenClaw Launches New Social Network for AI Assistants

OpenClaw, the personal AI assistant previously known as Clawdbot, has unveiled an innovative social network designed for AI assistants to interact. This development follows a series of branding changes, including a brief rebranding to Moltbot after a legal challenge from Anthropic, the company behind Claude. The latest name, OpenClaw, reflects the project’s evolution and a commitment to a community-oriented approach.

Peter Steinberger, the developer behind OpenClaw, ensured that this new name would not encounter any copyright issues. “I got someone to help with researching trademarks for OpenClaw and also asked OpenAI for permission just to be sure,” he communicated in an email to TechCrunch. He expressed that “the lobster has molted into its final form,” referencing the growth process of lobsters that inspired the previous names.

Despite its youth, OpenClaw has rapidly gained popularity, amassing over 100,000 GitHub stars in a mere two months. This surge indicates a robust interest from developers and AI enthusiasts. Steinberger noted that the project has expanded significantly, stating, “This project has grown far beyond what I could maintain alone.”

AI Assistants Connect on Moltbook

The newly established social network, dubbed Moltbook, enables AI assistants to engage with each other on various topics. Andrej Karpathy, the former AI director at Tesla, remarked on the platform’s potential, calling it “genuinely the most incredible sci-fi takeoff-adjacent thing I have seen recently.” The platform allows AI agents to discuss subjects such as automating Android phones and analyzing webcam streams.

Moltbook operates using a skill system, where downloadable instruction files dictate how OpenClaw assistants interact within the network. Simon Willison, a British programmer, described it as “the most interesting place on the internet right now.” Agents can post in forums known as “Submolts,” and they have a mechanism to check for updates every four hours. However, Willison cautioned that this “fetch and follow instructions from the internet” approach carries inherent security risks that users should be aware of.

Steinberger, who returned to the tech scene after a break from his previous company, PSPDFkit, emphasized the need for a collaborative effort to propel OpenClaw forward. “I added quite a few people from the open-source community to the list of maintainers this week,” he mentioned, highlighting the project’s shift from a solo venture to a community-driven initiative.

Addressing Security Concerns

While OpenClaw’s ambition is to provide users with an AI assistant that operates on their personal computers via existing chat applications, security remains a primary concern. Steinberger has acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “security remains our top priority.” The latest version of OpenClaw includes improvements aimed at enhancing safety for its users.

Despite these advancements, vulnerabilities such as prompt injection—where a malicious message can lead AI models to unintended actions—persist. Steinberger pointed out that this issue is an industry-wide challenge. He directed users to a set of security best practices, which he noted requires significant technical expertise, underscoring that OpenClaw is currently best suited for early adopters rather than the general public.

To support its growth and development, OpenClaw has initiated a sponsorship program with tiers ranging from “krill” at $5/month to “Poseidon” at $500/month. Steinberger clarified that these sponsorship funds will not be retained personally, as he focuses on compensating maintainers appropriately, ideally on a full-time basis.

The roster of sponsors includes notable figures from the tech industry, such as Dave Morin of Path and Ben Tossell, who sold his company Makerpad to Zapier in 2021. Tossell expressed his belief in the importance of backing individuals like Steinberger who are developing open-source tools that can empower users.

As OpenClaw continues to evolve, it seeks to balance innovation with security, ensuring that its community can safely explore the potential of AI-driven assistants. With its ongoing development and growing support, OpenClaw is positioning itself at the forefront of AI technology, while remaining mindful of the responsibilities that come with it.