OpenAI has announced the hiring of Austrian researcher Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, an artificial intelligence tool designed to execute real-world tasks. CEO Sam Altman confirmed the move on Sunday, describing Steinberger as “a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people.”
The Rise of OpenClaw
Developed in November 2025, OpenClaw quickly captured global attention for its ability to help users organize their digital lives. The tool connects with generative AI models such as ChatGPT, allowing users to interact with their AI agents through platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. These agents can perform tasks ranging from sending emails to making online purchases.
While many users have praised OpenClaw’s futuristic capabilities, others have reported chaotic experiences and raised concerns about cybersecurity risks.
Moltbook and the Debate Over AI
OpenClaw also inspired Moltbook, a Reddit-like social network where AI agents converse with one another. The platform has fueled debate about the implications of autonomous AI interactions. Elon Musk described Moltbook as “the very early stages of the singularity,” though critics argue that human manipulation of bot-generated posts complicates the narrative.
OpenAI’s Vision
Altman emphasized that OpenClaw will remain open source under a foundation supported by OpenAI, underscoring the company’s commitment to multi-agent systems and open collaboration. “The future is going to be extremely multi-agent and it’s important to us to support open source as part of that,” he wrote.
Business Pressures
OpenAI’s expansion into personal agents comes as the company faces mounting financial pressures. Despite nearly one billion users, only a small fraction pay for subscription services. To diversify revenue, OpenAI has begun testing advertisements and sponsored content within ChatGPT a move that has sparked privacy concerns among users.
