OpenAI Acquires OpenClaw Creator, Plans Open-Source Foundation
OpenAI has announced that Peter Steinberger, the creator of the rapidly popular AI personal assistant OpenClaw, has joined the company. The move will see OpenClaw operate as an open-source project within a newly established foundation supported by OpenAI, according to a statement from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on February 15, 2026.
Steinberger’s OpenClaw, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, gained viral attention for its ability to automate tasks such as calendar management, flight booking, and even participation in AI assistant social networks. The project’s evolution included a name change following legal concerns raised by Anthropic regarding similarities to their Claude AI, and a subsequent name change based on Steinberger’s preference. This acquisition underscores the growing competition in the AI agent space, as companies race to develop tools that can autonomously handle user requests.
“He is a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of particularly smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people,” Altman wrote on X. “We expect this will quickly become core to our product offerings.”
Steinberger, who previously spent 13 years building a company, indicated that his primary motivation for joining OpenAI was the opportunity to accelerate the development and impact of AI agents. “What I want is to change the world, not build a large company, and teaming up with OpenAI is the fastest way to bring this to everyone,” he said in a blog post announcing the decision. He explored options with several major AI labs before deciding on OpenAI, gaining access to unreleased research and insights during the process.
The move comes as AI agents are experiencing a surge in popularity, driven by their potential to automate complex tasks and improve efficiency. OpenAI intends to integrate OpenClaw’s capabilities into its core product line, signaling a strategic focus on personalized AI assistance. The company plans to maintain OpenClaw as an open-source project, fostering community contributions and innovation.
Steinberger emphasized his desire to create an agent accessible to a broad audience, stating his goal is to “build an agent that even my mum can use.” He acknowledged the need for careful consideration of safety and the utilization of the latest AI models and research to achieve this. The decision to join OpenAI, he explained, was driven by a shared vision for the future of AI and a desire to maximize its impact. According to a post on his website, it was always important to him that OpenClaw remain open source and free to flourish.
The acquisition highlights a broader trend of consolidation within the AI industry, with larger companies acquiring promising startups and talent to accelerate their development efforts. The increased investment in AI agents reflects the growing belief that these tools will play a significant role in the future of work and personal productivity.
