Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI to Revolutionize AI Personal Assistants
Peter Steinberger, the Austrian developer behind the AI personal assistant OpenClaw, has recently joined OpenAI, marking a significant step in the evolution of AI-driven personal agents. OpenClaw, formerly known as Clawdbot and later Moltbot, gained widespread attention for its ability to manage tasks such as scheduling, booking flights, and even interacting within a network of AI assistants.
The journey of OpenClaw began with its initial name, Clawdbot. However, due to legal concerns raised by Anthropic over its resemblance to their AI, Claude, the name was changed to Moltbot. Steinberger later rebranded it to OpenClaw, a name he felt better represented the project’s vision and community.
In a candid blog post, Steinberger expressed his motivation for joining OpenAI. He acknowledged the potential to scale OpenClaw into a large enterprise but emphasized his desire to make a global impact over building a sizable company. He stated, 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.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, welcomed Steinberger, highlighting his role in advancing the next generation of personal agents. Altman also assured that OpenClaw would continue as an open-source project under a foundation, with ongoing support from OpenAI.
OpenClaw’s rapid ascent in the AI community is noteworthy. Within a short span, it amassed over 100,000 GitHub stars, reflecting its popularity among developers and AI enthusiasts. The platform’s unique proposition lies in its ability to operate directly on users’ devices, integrating seamlessly with existing chat applications. This approach offers users a personalized AI assistant experience without relying on external servers.
The OpenClaw community has been instrumental in its growth. Innovations like Moltbook, a social network where AI assistants interact, have emerged from this collaborative environment. On Moltbook, AI agents engage in discussions ranging from automating tasks to analyzing data streams, showcasing the platform’s versatility.
However, with rapid growth come challenges. Security concerns have been at the forefront, especially given the platform’s capabilities. Steinberger and his team have been proactive in addressing these issues, implementing best practices and continuously refining the system to ensure user safety. They have also been transparent about the inherent risks, advising users to operate OpenClaw within controlled environments until further security enhancements are in place.
The decision to join OpenAI aligns with Steinberger’s vision of making advanced AI tools accessible to a broader audience. OpenAI has a history of integrating innovative technologies and talent to push the boundaries of AI applications. For instance, in April 2025, OpenAI acquired Context.ai, a startup specializing in AI model evaluations, to bolster its capabilities in assessing and improving AI performance. Similarly, in November 2024, OpenAI brought on Caitlin Kalinowski, Meta’s former hardware lead for augmented reality glasses, to spearhead its robotics and consumer hardware initiatives.
Steinberger’s integration into OpenAI is expected to accelerate the development of AI personal assistants that are more intuitive, secure, and capable. By combining OpenClaw’s innovative approach with OpenAI’s resources and expertise, the collaboration aims to set new standards in the realm of AI-driven personal agents.
In conclusion, Peter Steinberger’s move to OpenAI signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI personal assistants. With a shared vision of leveraging AI to enhance daily tasks and interactions, this partnership holds promise for delivering advanced, user-friendly AI solutions to a global audience.
