OpenClaw: The Chaotic Rise of a Viral AI Assistant
Starting as Clawdbot and later renamed to OpenClaw, the open-source AI assistant went viral within a week, faced trademark issues, and became the center of security debates.
AI Project That Went Viral in a Week and Changed Its Name Twice
The tech world is talking about an open-source AI assistant that rapidly gained popularity over the past week, only to become a topic of discussion due to brand disputes and security concerns. Starting as Clawdbot, briefly becoming Moltbot, and finally being referred to as OpenClaw, the project promises much more than an ordinary chatbot.
The Chaos Triggered by a Name Change
The project's founder, Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, received an email from Anthropic over the weekend. The email stated that the names 'Clawd' and 'Clawdbot' could be confused with the company's AI model 'Claude' and that trademark rights needed to be protected. Following this warning, Steinberger decided to change the project's name to Moltbot.
However, this decision triggered unexpected digital chaos. The moment the name was changed, automated bots took over the original @clawdbot social media account. The hijacker immediately shared a cryptocurrency wallet address. Steinberger's accidental change of his personal GitHub account name in a state of sleeplessness and panic led to a second crisis. The 'Steipete' username was also quickly snatched up by bots. The developer had to seek help from his connections on X and GitHub to resolve both situations.
What is OpenClaw and Why is it Attracting Attention?
OpenClaw is described as an AI assistant that allows users to perform tasks on their computers, rather than just chatting. The project's core promise is that the assistant can work within platforms where users already communicate, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, and Slack. Users can message the assistant as if texting a friend, and the assistant can remember conversations from weeks ago.
The project has three standout core features:
- Persistent Memory: It doesn't forget everything when the app is closed; it learns user preferences and remembers past conversations.
- Proactive Notifications: It can send the first message without being asked, regarding things like daily summaries or deadline reminders.
- Real Automation: Depending on the setup, it can perform tasks like scheduling, form filling, file editing, and controlling smart home devices.
The project was launched about three weeks ago and gathered 9,000 GitHub stars within 24 hours. By the end of last week, this number exceeded 60,000. Figures from AI researcher Andrej Karpathy to investor David Sacks praised the project. The MacStories site described OpenClaw as 'the future of personal AI assistants.'
Security Warnings and Cautions for Users
As its popularity grew, security experts began raising red flags about OpenClaw. The assistant is designed to run locally and interact with emails, files, and credentials, meaning small setup errors could have significant consequences.
In recent days, researchers have detected many OpenClaw installations accessible publicly with little to no authentication. These installations inadvertently expose API keys, chat logs, and system access to anyone who might stumble upon them.
Some of the most visible security concerns were not technical but social. Fake Clawdbot/Moltbot/OpenClaw download links and hijacked accounts were used to spread malware or scams. The developer team urged users to download only from the official GitHub repository and avoid clicking suspicious links.
Experts emphasize that users wanting to try OpenClaw should be knowledgeable about cybersecurity and not expect a 'flawlessly working' product. The project is described as a fast-moving, unpolished open-source initiative and does not offer corporate support or comprehensive security certifications. The development of such platforms and tools for AI agents brings with it new debates and risks.
What Does the Future Hold?
OpenClaw's story is proof of how fast and unpredictable the open-source software world can be. The project, which went viral in a short period like a week, faced brand issues, changed its name, and underwent serious security scrutiny, managed to increase interest in the concept of AI assistance. However, making such powerful tools accessible also urgently brings user education and responsible deployment to the agenda. How the project will proceed after its chaotic start and how it will address security concerns will be closely watched by technology observers.
