OpenAI Hires OpenClaw Creator Peter Steinberger for AI Agent Development

TLDR

• OpenAI hired Peter Steinberger, creator of the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, to advance its AI agent capabilities
• OpenClaw will remain open-source under an independent foundation with continued support from OpenAI
• OpenClaw gained 180,000 Github stars since launching in November 2025 and can handle tasks like email management and flight check-ins
• The same day as the announcement, Moonshot AI launched Kimi Claw, a browser-based version of OpenClaw’s framework
• Steinberger previously received acquisition offers from both OpenAI and Meta before deciding to join OpenAI

OpenAI announced the hiring of Peter Steinberger on February 15, 2026. Steinberger created OpenClaw, a popular open-source AI agent that gained attention for its autonomous capabilities.

The move represents OpenAI’s continued focus on developing AI agents that can handle real-world tasks. CEO Sam Altman shared the news on social media platform X.

OpenClaw will not become part of OpenAI through acquisition. Instead, the project will transition to an independent foundation model while maintaining its open-source status under an MIT license.

Steinberger stated he is joining OpenAI to work on the frontier of AI research and development. He confirmed that keeping OpenClaw open-source remains a priority.

The AI agent launched in November 2025 under the name Clawdbot. It quickly gained more than 180,000 stars on Github, making it one of the fastest-growing projects on the platform.

OpenClaw operates autonomously on personal devices. The tool can manage email inboxes, book restaurant reservations, and check users in for flights without constant supervision.

The agent integrates with messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord. Users can control OpenClaw directly through these applications.

Technical Capabilities and Challenges

OpenClaw uses large language models from Anthropic and OpenAI to execute tasks. The system includes a “heartbeat” feature that activates the agent proactively rather than waiting for user commands.

Steinberger previously revealed the project faced monthly losses between $10,000 and $20,000. The tool also encountered security concerns and trademark disputes during its development.

Scammers hijacked accounts and packages during a trademark conflict. These issues forced Steinberger to implement rapid defensive measures.

Both OpenAI and Meta made acquisition offers for OpenClaw. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg contacted Steinberger via WhatsApp to discuss integration possibilities.

New Competition Emerges

Moonshot AI launched Kimi Claw on the same day as Steinberger’s announcement. The new tool offers a browser-native, cloud-hosted version of OpenClaw’s framework.

Kimi Claw runs on Moonshot’s Kimi K2.5 model. The service provides 40GB of cloud storage, access to over 5,000 community skills, and 24/7 agent functionality.

The browser-based approach eliminates local setup requirements like Docker installations. However, the Chinese-hosted service raises data privacy questions for some users.

Community reactions to Steinberger’s move have been mixed. Some developers see the decision as validation for AI agent technology.

Others worry about corporate influence on the project’s community-driven approach. Some users have used the term “Closedclaw” to express concerns about the change.

OpenAI will continue supporting OpenClaw’s development under the foundation model. Financial terms of Steinberger’s hiring were not disclosed.

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