TL;DR: OpenClaw (formerly Clawbot/Moltbot) is a free, open-source autonomous AI assistant adopted by 84K+ developers. It executes real tasks on your computer — email, calendar, smart home, and 50+ platform integrations. Featured on CNBC, Nature, and Scientific American. View OpenClaw tool page
What Is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant that goes far beyond chatting. It can clear your inbox, send emails, manage calendars, check you in for flights, control smart home devices, and integrate with 15+ messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord.
Created by Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit), it went viral in January 2026 and has been covered by CNBC, Nature, Scientific American, and IBM.
Key Capabilities
| Category | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Reads, responds, sorts, and manages your inbox | |
| Calendar | Schedules meetings, sends reminders, checks availability |
| Messaging | 15+ platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage) |
| Smart Home | Controls lights, thermostats, cameras |
| Computer | Full browser and file system access |
| Memory | Persistent context across sessions |
Security Concerns
OpenClaw's power comes with risks. Palo Alto Networks warned of a "lethal trifecta" due to its access to private data and ability to execute commands. A critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-25253, CVSS 8.8) was disclosed in February 2026.
Our recommendation: Use OpenClaw on a dedicated machine or VM, not your primary workstation. Keep it updated and review all automated actions regularly.
Try OpenClaw
Visit OpenClaw's official website or view OpenClaw tool page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenClaw safe to use?
OpenClaw is self-hosted (privacy-first), but its shell access and broad permissions create security risks. Use on a dedicated device and keep it updated.
What AI models does OpenClaw support?
Claude, GPT, and local models via Ollama. You bring your own API keys.
Why did it change names so many times?
Trademark issues: Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw. The current name is likely permanent.
