OpenClaw Founder Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI as AI Assistant Tool Goes Open-Source

OpenClaw Founder Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI as AI Assistant Tool Goes Open-Source

In a significant development for the artificial intelligence ecosystem, Peter Steinberger, the creator and founder of OpenClaw — a highly acclaimed personal AI assistant capable of managing emails, calendars, and messaging workflows across platforms — has joined OpenAI. The move, confirmed via Steinberger’s own social channels and corroborated by multiple industry sources, signals a strategic consolidation of cutting-edge automation tools within one of the world’s most influential AI labs.

According to The Verge, Steinberger will bring his expertise in conversational AI and agent-based automation to OpenAI’s broader mission of developing safe, scalable, and universally beneficial artificial intelligence. Notably, OpenClaw itself will continue as an open-source project, ensuring its functionality remains accessible to developers and users alike. This decision, described by Steinberger as "a natural evolution," aims to decouple innovation from corporate ownership while leveraging OpenAI’s infrastructure for enhanced security and scalability.

OpenClaw, launched in early 2025, rapidly gained traction for its ability to operate seamlessly within existing communication channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. Unlike traditional chatbots that require users to switch platforms or learn new interfaces, OpenClaw acts as a persistent, memory-equipped agent that learns user preferences over time. As highlighted on the project’s official website, users have praised its "persistent memory," "persona onboarding," and ability to autonomously integrate third-party APIs — such as routing a CoPilot subscription through a proxy to extend usage limits, as one early adopter noted.

One of OpenClaw’s most innovative features is its skill-building architecture, which allows users to instruct the AI to expand its own capabilities through natural language. For example, a user could say, "Set up a workflow to check my flight status and notify me if it changes," and OpenClaw would autonomously integrate with airline APIs, calendar services, and notification systems without requiring code. This self-improving behavior, combined with its integration with VirusTotal for security vetting of user-provided skills, has positioned OpenClaw as a de facto standard in personal AI automation.

While OpenAI has not disclosed Steinberger’s specific role, industry analysts speculate he will lead a new initiative focused on agent-based AI assistants — an area where OpenAI has been relatively quiet compared to competitors like Anthropic and Google. The acquisition of OpenClaw’s core team and intellectual property could accelerate OpenAI’s entry into the productivity AI market, potentially integrating OpenClaw’s architecture into future versions of ChatGPT or a standalone agent product.

Despite the corporate transition, OpenAI has publicly affirmed its commitment to maintaining OpenClaw’s open-source status. The project’s GitHub repository and community forums remain active, with Steinberger pledging to continue contributing as a maintainer. TechCrunch reports that the OpenClaw codebase will be relicensed under a permissive MIT license, encouraging forked development and enterprise adaptations. This move has been widely celebrated by the open-source AI community, with developers on Hacker News calling it "a rare example of responsible commercialization."

As AI assistants transition from experimental tools to essential digital infrastructure, Steinberger’s departure from independent development to OpenAI underscores a broader trend: the consolidation of niche, high-impact AI innovations under major tech players — while preserving public access. The future of personal AI may no longer be built in isolation, but it will remain open for all to inspect, improve, and deploy.