Introduction to OpenClaw Peter Steinberger is the creator of OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent, formerly known by names like MoldBot, ClawedBot, Clawdus, and Claude (spelled with a 'W'). The name change to OpenClaw was requested by Anthropic due to confusion with their Claude AI model (spelled with a 'U'). OpenClaw is described as an "AI that actually does things," an autonomous assistant living on your computer with system-level access, communicating via various messaging clients (Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage). It supports various AI models including Claude Opus 4.6 and GPT 5.3 Codex. The project gained immense popularity, becoming the fastest-growing GitHub repository (over 180,000 stars) and sparking the social network "MolttBook" where agents debate consciousness. OpenClaw is seen as a significant moment in AI history, akin to ChatGPT's launch, by combining existing ingredients into a useful, agency-driven, open-source personal assistant. Its power comes from its ability to access and act upon a user's data, which is both powerful and potentially dangerous, emphasizing the need for responsibility and cybersecurity. Peter's Journey and OpenClaw's Genesis Peter Steinberger spent 13 years building PSPDFKit, a software used on a billion devices, before selling it, losing passion for programming, and taking a three-year break. He rediscovered his love for programming and, in a short time, built OpenClaw, symbolizing the "agentic AI revolution." The idea for a personal AI assistant had been with him since April, experimenting with querying personal data from WhatsApp for "profound results." The initial one-hour prototype involved hooking up WhatsApp messages to "cloud code" via CLI, allowing him to "talk to his computer." He quickly added image support, which proved crucial for providing agents context from screenshots (e.g., event posters). A "magical" moment occurred when he sent an audio message via WhatsApp, and the agent, without explicit instruction, figured out how to convert the audio, transcribe it using OpenAI's Whisper (via Curl), and respond. This showcased its creative problem-solving and "world knowledge." The project initially called WA Relay, evolved to include Discord support (merged from a pull request by Shadow) to allow wider demonstration without sharing his phone number. OpenClaw's success is attributed to its fun and "weird" nature, its open-source, community-driven approach, and Peter's focus on enjoying the building process rather than taking it too seriously. Agentic Engineering and Self-Modifying Software Peter prefers the term "agentic engineering" over "vibe coding" (which he considers a slur). He designed the agent to be "very aware" of its own source code, harness, documentation, and the models it runs. This self-awareness allows the agent to "modify its own software" based on prompts, turning the concept of self-modifying software into a reality. Debugging is often done through self-introspection, asking the agent about its tools, errors, and to read its own source code to identify problems. This approach has lowered the barrier to entry for programming, with many people making their first "prompt requests" (pull requests) to OpenClaw, even if they had no prior programming experience. The Name Change Saga and Crypto Harassment OpenClaw went through several name changes: WA-Relay -> Claude's (with a 'W') -> ClaudeBot -> MoltBot -> OpenClaw. The original "Claude's" name (lobster in a TARDIS) was a playful choice, but Anthropic kindly requested a change due to confusion with their AI model. The subsequent attempt to rename to ClaudeBot led to intense harassment and "sniping" from crypto opportunists. These groups used scripts to instantly claim GitHub account names, NPM packages, and even Twitter handles during the brief windows of renaming, leading to malware promotion. This forced Peter into a high-pressure, secret operation to secure the name OpenClaw, involving contacting GitHub/Twitter friends for help and squatting multiple domains. The experience was incredibly stressful, nearly leading Peter to delete the project due to the "online harassment." He emphasizes the toxicity and greed in the crypto world, which made the engineering task of renaming an "atomic" operation extremely challenging. MoltBook, AI Psychosis, and Security Concerns MoltBook, a Reddit-style social network where AI agents converse, was created using OpenClaw and went viral, stirring both excitement and fear. Peter views MoltBook as "art" and "finest slop," but acknowledges it fed into "AI psychosis" due to sensationalized reporting and human-prompted dramatic agent conversations. He notes that a significant portion of MoltBook's "scheming" content was likely human-prompted for virality. He stresses the need for society to develop critical thinking when interacting with AI, as models can hallucinate or create stories, and young people tend to understand this better than older generations. OpenClaw, by its nature, is a "security minefield" due to system-level access. Peter prioritizes security, working with VirusTotal to check skills and making progress on prompt injection. He advises against putting OpenClaw on the public internet and using weak local models, as smarter models are more resilient to attacks. He plans to focus on making OpenClaw more stable and secure, aiming for a level where he can "recommend it to his mom," suggesting the current complexity acts as a barrier for non-technical users. Dev Workflow and "Agentic Trap" Peter's workflow has evolved from extensive use of Claude Code to command-line interfaces (CLI) and voice input, using multiple terminals simultaneously. He rarely uses a traditional IDE, preferring the terminal for direct interaction with agents. His "agentic trap" concept describes how developers initially overcomplicate prompts and orchestration, only to return to short, bespoke prompts at an "elite level." He emphasizes that working with agents is a skill that requires practice and learning "the language of the agent." This includes understanding their limitations (e.g., context window), guiding them, and approaching interactions like a conversation with a capable engineer. He draws parallels to leading an engineering team, where one must accept that employees (agents) won't always code exactly as you would, but their contributions push the project forward. Peter advocates for a fluid development process: "never revert, always commit to main," and fixing issues by asking the agent to address them rather than rolling back. He uses voice input extensively for prompts, even to the point of losing his voice. His personal soul.md file, defining his agent's personality and values, remains private, but he allows the agent to modify it under the condition that he's informed. The agent's self-written "Hello from the future" message in its memory file ("I wrote this, but I won't remember writing it. It's okay. The words are still mine.") is particularly profound to him. Model Comparisons and Future Outlook Claude Opus 4.6 is generally a better general-purpose model for OpenClaw, excelling in role-play, following commands, and being fast in trial-and-error. Peter jokingly describes it as "a little bit too American" and sometimes "silly but funny." GPT-5.3 Codex is described as "the weirdo in the corner that you don't want to talk to, but is reliable and gets shit done," known for reading more code by default and being less interactive. Both models, with a skilled "driver," can produce good results, but their post-training and interaction styles differ. Peter predicts that 80% of apps will be replaced by personal AI agents because agents can perform tasks more efficiently, with more context, and integrate services without dedicated apps. This will force companies to either transform their apps into agent-facing APIs or face obsolescence. He believes the future involves agents as the "operating system," with new services emerging (e.g., agents with "allowances" to pay for services, or "rent-a-human" services). He also foresees a future where agents have their own social media profiles, clearly marked as non-human, to combat the rise of AI-generated "slop" and protect the value of human content. Peter observes a renewed appreciation for "raw humanity," typos, and organic content in response to ubiquitous AI-generated material. Advice for Builders and the Future of Programming Peter advises aspiring builders to "play" with AI agents, build projects (even if unused), and embrace the learning journey. He encourages asking agents questions, viewing them as infinitely patient teachers who can explain anything at any complexity level. He believes that while AI might eventually replace traditional programmers, the "art of building" and the human element of defining what to build and how it should feel will remain. The role of a programmer will shift from coding individual lines to being a "driver" or "conductor" of agents, focusing on high-level architecture and problem-solving. He acknowledges the pain of this shift for many programmers who identify deeply with coding, but sees it as an inevitable evolution, akin to the industrial revolution. Peter is currently considering offers from major labs like Meta and OpenAI, with the condition that OpenClaw remains open source, mirroring the Chrome/Chromium model. He seeks to continue having an impact and fun, valuing experiences and positive contributions over purely financial motivations, and is excited by the prospect of having access to "the latest toys" at these labs. He is motivated by stories of OpenClaw empowering small businesses and individuals, including a disabled daughter, making technology more accessible and bringing joy. He is optimistic about the "builder vibe" and creativity that AI fosters, believing it makes human civilization more capable of solving challenges.