Peter Steinberger, the innovative mind behind the AI personal assistant known as OpenClaw, has officially joined OpenAI.
Initially branded as Clawdbot and later Moltbot, OpenClaw has gained significant attention recently for its commitment to being the "AI that actually performs tasks." This includes managing schedules, booking travel, and even participating in a social network designed for AI assistants. The name changes were prompted by a legal threat from Anthropic due to its similarity to Claude, and Steinberger ultimately preferred the new name.
In a recent blog post detailing his move to OpenAI, the Austrian developer expressed that while he could have expanded OpenClaw into a major enterprise, he finds that prospect unexciting. "My goal is to make a meaningful impact on the world, not merely to build a large corporation. Collaborating with OpenAI is the quickest route to achieving this vision," Steinberger stated.
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, shared on social media that Steinberger will be instrumental in shaping the future of personal agents. He also noted that OpenClaw will continue to exist as an open-source initiative supported by OpenAI.