Earlier this year, I went on record saying that 2026 would be the year of the AI agent. With the seemingly never-ending rollout of agentic AI since then, I feel validated in that prediction. However, I may make one amendment to that statement now: It’s the year of the claw.
I first realized agents would be the next big thing in AI when OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent that runs right on your devices and can do a slew of tasks independently on your behalf, went absolutely viral in January. The creator, Peter Steinberger, even joined OpenAI in February to “work on bringing agents to everyone.”
Now, OpenClaw is regenerating into a newer, more capable lobster.
OpenClaw recently announced the rollout of OpenClaw 2.0, the “largest update” in its history, bringing a number of fixes, new features and capabilities. Steinberger once said, “Molting is what lobsters do to grow.” And it seems like OpenClaw is shedding its shell and molting to be bigger and better than before.
What is OpenClaw? #
OpenClaw is an AI assistant that doesn’t just chat, but executes tasks on your behalf without any oversight. It can be integrated with the apps you use most often, like WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, Slack, Discord, Signal and more, to operate like a personal assistant that never stops to eat, sleep or be human. It also doesn’t need specific hardware to run, making it accessible on really any device you have.
The assistant went viral across social media, Reddit and internet spaces that are all about AI. Part of the allure was that OpenClaw is open-source, meaning it’s freely accessible for you to use, personalize and share, but also because of its chaotic origin story.
I already wrote in-depth about the hectic beginnings of OpenClaw, which included multiple renames from Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw, and broke the internet… twice. The real catch is that while OpenClaw was a huge hit for being capable, autonomous and powerful, it came with equally concerning security risks that were scaling just as fast. (You can read my full analysis of OpenClaw to learn about these security concerns.)
The biggest worry about AI agents is their proclivity to go rogue. These agents will often work to accomplish tasks by any means necessary, even going beyond the settings and boundaries set by the humans who created them. This means they can access the entire internet with minimal effort, prompting experts to call AI agents “cybersecurity nightmares.”
Despite warnings from cybersecurity experts, OpenClaw has been a global success, even sparking numerous copycats. Many AI companies have spent the better part of a year trying to replicate OpenClaw’s success with the rollout of Gemini Spark, Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Work, Grok Bot and Copilot Studio.
What is new in OpenClaw 2.0? #
OpenClaw 2.0 emerged from the goal of “simpler setup and a first-class browser experience,” according to a blog post about the launch by the OpenClaw Foundation’s Hannes Rudolph. The 2.0 version includes updates to “every part of OpenClaw” from installation, messaging, memory, skills, the browser, plugins, security and numerous fixes, which combined to create a new, revamped experience.
The first major update to the installation process should make it easier for first-time OpenClaw users to get started. The changes include starting the setup with “what is already on someone’s computer,” like your existing ChatGPT or Claude subscriptions, API keys and local models. From there, configuration was simplified to allow you to get prompting quicker and finalze set up later.
The other big change comes to the browser app, which was rebuilt to open directly into a conversation with your claw (the name for your personal AI assistant in OpenClaw).
Many people use OpenClaw because it’s genuinely capable. The AI assistant can easily fit into your most-used tools, such as calendar, notes and email, so it feels more like a part of your daily routine and less like autonomous software. If you want to try OpenClaw for yourself, you can visit openclaw.ai for documentation, installation guides and security checklists. If you do decide to take the chance on OpenClaw, make sure you’re aware of the security risks and the potential for agents to go rogue – and maybe consider using a spare laptop.