What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw (formerly ClawdBot, briefly MoltBot) is an open-source AI assistant that actually does things on your computer instead of just chatting. You talk to it through the messaging apps you already use — WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, Signal, and more — and it can automate tasks, run commands, remember your conversations, and message you first with reminders or briefings.

What OpenClaw does

• Lives in your chat apps: You text it like a contact; no need to open a separate AI app.
• Persistent memory: It remembers preferences, ongoing projects, and past conversations (e.g. last week's chat).
• Proactive notifications: It can message you first — daily briefings, deadline reminders, email summaries.
• Real automation: With your permission, it can schedule tasks, search email, organize files, run commands, and hook into calendar, notes, and other tools.

How it works

OpenClaw uses a Gateway (a long-running process on your machine or server) that connects your messaging channels to an agent runtime. The heavy AI work is done by whichever LLM you configure (e.g. Claude, ChatGPT) or by coding agents like Pi. The Gateway handles routing, sessions, and tools; you can run it via Docker, Railway, Render, Nix, or a local install (Node ≥22). A browser Control UI and CLI (openclaw) give you setup, config, and monitoring.

Key features

• Multi-channel: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, Mattermost (plugin), and more.
• Agent bridge: Integrates with Pi and tool streaming.
• Sessions and memory: Per-sender or per-agent sessions, compaction, and context.
• Deployment options: Local, Docker, Railway, Render, Northflank, Nix, Ansible.

A note on the name

The project went viral in early 2026 and rebranded twice in a few days: ClawdBot → MoltBot (after Anthropic's trademark outreach) → OpenClaw. The lobster mascot and the word open refer to open source; the docs joke that every space lobster needs a time-and-space machine.