OpenClaw’s AI assistants are now building their own social network

image via TechCrunch

January 30, 2026, 11:36 PM

• •OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant that aims to run on a user's own computer, integrating with existing chat apps.
• •The project has gained rapid popularity, attracting over 100,000 GitHub stars in two months.
• •The platform, along with its offshoots, are attracting attention from AI researchers and developers, with Moltbook being described as 'the most interesting place on the internet right now'.
• •Security is a top priority, with warnings against usage by those without command-line expertise.
• •OpenClaw has started accepting sponsors to fund maintainers, aiming for full-time support.

The personal AI assistant, formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, has rebranded again, now called OpenClaw, after navigating legal challenges and copyright concerns. The community-driven project, attracting significant attention and GitHub stars, aims to provide users with a self-hosted AI assistant. OpenClaw has inspired creative offshoots like Moltbook, a social network for AI assistants. Despite its potential, the project prioritizes security, advising against general public use until security measures are further developed.

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