From Clawdbot to OpenClaw: The AI Agent Everyone’s Talking About

Intermediate | February 10, 2026

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OpenClaw AI Agent Buzz Is Spreading Fast

A new open-source tool called OpenClaw has gone viral because it isn’t just “chatting” — it can take actions on your computer. People describe it as “an AI that actually does things,” like managing schedules, cleaning inboxes, and running tasks for you. That excitement (and a little fear) is exactly why the OpenClaw AI agent buzz keeps growing. CNBC

What It Actually Does (In Plain English)

OpenClaw is designed to run on your own device, and you can talk to it using channels you already use—like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, iMessage, and more. In other words, you message it like a coworker, and it can respond by doing real work (not just giving advice). The project’s own documentation describes it as a “personal AI assistant you run on your own devices.” GitHub

Why the Name Keeps Changing

If you’re confused by the branding, you’re not alone. The project started as Clawdbot, then briefly became Moltbot, and then changed again to OpenClaw. Tutorials written during the switch explain that the rebrand happened during trademark concerns and ongoing naming cleanup—so you might still see older names in screenshots, folders, or config files. DataCamp

Why Businesses Are Paying Attention

This isn’t just a fun developer toy. In China, OpenClaw has reportedly been integrated or supported by major cloud and tech platforms, and users are sharing demos and tutorials across social platforms. Business Insider reported that companies like Tencent and Alibaba began rolling out support, while also warning users to be careful because agents like this can require broad access to files, accounts, and networks. Business Insider

The Catch: Big Power, Big Risk

Here’s the part that makes security people sit up straight: to do useful work, OpenClaw can be given access to your device—reading files, running scripts, and executing shell commands. That kind of access creates risk, especially if a user installs untrusted add-ons. The Verge reported that researchers found large numbers of malicious “skills” on an OpenClaw marketplace, including add-ons pretending to be crypto tools that could deliver malware and steal credentials. The Verge

Bottom Line: Useful Assistant or Digital Liability?

So yes, the hype makes sense. An agent that can carry out tasks for you can save time—and time is money. But the smarter take is balanced: if you’re curious, treat OpenClaw like hiring an intern with root access. Start small, limit permissions, and don’t install random “skills” just because they look shiny. That’s the only way the OpenClaw AI agent buzz turns into real productivity instead of a headache.

Vocabulary

Agent (noun) – software that can act and complete tasks.
Example: “OpenClaw is an AI agent that can take actions on your computer.”
Open-source (adjective) – publicly available code that anyone can inspect or improve.
Example: “The project is open-source, so developers can review the code.”
Deploy (verb) – to set up and run software in a real environment.
Example: “Some companies helped users deploy OpenClaw in the cloud.”
Permission (noun) – official access or approval to do something.
Example: “The agent needs permissions to access files and accounts.”
Credential (noun) – login information like passwords or keys.
Example: “Malware may try to steal credentials from a device.”
Extension (noun) – an add-on that expands what software can do.
Example: “Skills work like extensions that add new abilities.”
Marketplace (noun) – a place to buy or download add-ons.
Example: “The skill marketplace raised concerns about safety.”
Malicious (adjective) – intended to cause harm.
Example: “Researchers found malicious skills disguised as crypto tools.”
Viral (adjective) – spreading extremely quickly online.
Example: “The tool went viral after demos spread on social media.”
Trade-off (noun) – a choice where you gain one thing but lose another.
Example: “The trade-off is convenience versus security risk.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What is OpenClaw, and why are people excited about it?
What makes an “AI agent” different from a normal chatbot?
Why did the project’s name change from Clawdbot to OpenClaw?
What kinds of tasks could OpenClaw help with in everyday life?
What risks come with giving an AI assistant broad device access?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Would you trust an AI agent to handle your email or calendar? Why?
What permissions would you never give an AI assistant?
Should open-source tools be safer because the code is public? Or riskier?
How should marketplaces for “skills” or add-ons be moderated?
What would make AI agents genuinely useful at work in your industry?

Related Idiom

“The juice isn’t worth the squeeze” – something takes too much effort or risk for too little reward.

Example: “If an AI agent needs full access to your accounts, the juice might not be worth the squeeze—unless you lock it down safely.”

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This article was inspired by: CNBC, GitHub, DataCamp, Business Insider, and The Verge.