OpenClaw ClawdBot (formerly ClawdBot, briefly Moltbot) is a revolutionary open-source AI agent platform that gives autonomous AI assistants "hands and claws" to control your digital life. Learn everything about OpenClaw ClawdBot.
OpenClaw ClawdBot is an open-source autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) personal assistant software that runs locally on user devices and integrates seamlessly with messaging platforms and productivity tools. Unlike traditional cloud-based AI assistants, OpenClaw ClawdBot gives you complete control over your data and AI operations.
The platform runs locally on your own hardware, ensuring maximum privacy and security. OpenClaw ClawdBot acts as a local message router and agent runtime, connecting to your everyday applications including WhatsApp, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Telegram, Signal, Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Matrix, Zalo, and WebChat.
OpenClaw ClawdBot is model-agnostic, meaning it works with multiple AI models as its "brain." It supports cloud-based models including Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5, GPT-5.3-Codex, Kimi K2.5, GLM 5, and MiniMax 2.5, as well as local models through Ollama integration. Users bring their own API keys or run models locally, maintaining full control over their AI infrastructure.
Built on Node.js, OpenClaw ClawdBot was created by developer Peter Steinberger and initially released in November 2025 under the name "ClawdBot." The platform has since grown to 180,000+ GitHub stars and attracted 900+ contributors, becoming one of the fastest-growing open-source AI projects in history.
A common misconception is that OpenClaw ClawdBot is a new AI model. In reality, OpenClaw ClawdBot is not a new AI model — it uses preexisting AI models like Claude or GPT as its "brain." Instead, OpenClaw acts as a local message router and agent runtime that gives AI models the ability to take actions in the real world.
The platform gives AI models "hands and claws" to run commands, manipulate files, manage emails, update calendars, and interact with various online services. It essentially transforms passive AI assistants into active agents that can autonomously manage your digital life.
OpenClaw ClawdBot connects to over 50 integrations spanning chat providers, AI models, productivity tools, music platforms, and smart home devices.
Supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Signal, iMessage (BlueBubbles), Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Matrix, Zalo, and WebChat.
Uses workspace-based architecture allowing multiple agent configurations with different personalities, skills, and settings.
Access local web interface at http://127.0.0.1:18789/ for token usage monitoring, workspace management, and configuration (introduced in v2026.2.6).
OpenClaw ClawdBot represents a fundamentally different approach to AI assistants compared to traditional cloud-based services. The table below highlights the key architectural and functional differences that make OpenClaw ClawdBot unique.
| Feature | OpenClaw ClawdBot | Traditional AI Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Local, self-hosted on your hardware | Cloud-based, hosted by provider |
| Privacy | Full control, your API keys, local data | Data sent to provider's servers |
| Autonomy | Periodic autonomous actions, proactive behavior | Request-response only, reactive |
| Messaging | 11+ platforms simultaneously | Usually 1 platform integration |
| Extensibility | 700+ skills, open ecosystem, ClawHub marketplace | Limited or closed plugin system |
| Memory | Persistent cross-session memory over weeks | Session-based memory only |
| Personality | Customizable via SOUL.md files | Fixed personality by provider |
OpenClaw ClawdBot has one of the most fascinating naming stories in tech history, cycling through three different names in just one week during January 2026.
The platform launched as "ClawdBot" and quickly gained viral traction. Within two months, it achieved 100,000 GitHub stars, becoming one of the fastest-growing open-source projects ever. The name "ClawdBot" reflected the concept of giving AI "claws" to interact with the world.
Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, requested a name change due to phonetic similarity between "ClawdBot" and "Claude." To comply, creator Peter Steinberger renamed the project to "Moltbot."
The Moltbot name was used for only 2 days. During this brief period, the Moltbook AI-only social network launched. However, the name never resonated with the creator or community.
Just two days after the Moltbot rename, Peter Steinberger made a proactive decision to rename the project again to "OpenClaw" to avoid future trademark conflicts. According to the creator, "Moltbot never grew on him." The "Open" prefix signals the open-source nature while "Claw" preserves the original identity.
OpenClaw ClawdBot has achieved remarkable growth and adoption in just a few months since its November 2025 launch. The statistics below reflect the platform's status as of February 2026.