OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joins OpenAI, potentially accelerating OpenAI's development of autonomous AI agents
Peter Steinberger, known for developing OpenClaw , an open framework for running large-scale language models (LLMs) as agents, has announced that he will join OpenAI. OpenClaw will transition to an open, independent organization and remain an open source project.
OpenClaw, OpenAI and the future | Peter Steinberger
OpenClaw is a centralized control system called a 'Gateway' built on a local machine. Its unique feature is that it can centrally manage all functions and operations, including connection management, chat management, the use of tools for automating PC operations, and the invocation of functions based on time and events. It also supports the use of multiple AI providers and models depending on the purpose of use, and can use a variety of messaging services, including Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, as 'channels' for giving instructions to the AI.
'OpenClaw' is a self-hosted personal AI assistant that can be used in conjunction with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS and can perform various operations - GIGAZINE
Steinberger, who has 13 years of experience running a company and describes himself as a developer at heart, said in a blog post that joining OpenAI is a step toward achieving his goal of bringing agents to everyone.
'When I started exploring AI, my goal was to have fun and inspire people,' Steinberger said. 'Now Lobster (OpenClaw) is taking the world by storm. My next mission is to create an agent that even my mother can use.'
'I want to change the world, not just build a big company, and partnering with OpenAI is the quickest way to realize that vision. The safety and access to the latest research results are also major reasons for choosing OpenAI,' he said.
As for OpenClaw itself, it will be run as a foundation to maintain its independence and allow it to evolve freely. OpenAI has committed to sponsoring the project, and Steinberger looks forward to continuing to work with the community at the forefront of development.
Steinberger concluded his blog post with a phrase familiar to the OpenClaw community: 'The claw is the law.'
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised Steinberger as a 'genius' and expressed his excitement for Steinberger to lead the next generation of personal agents. Altman also predicted that the creation of highly intelligent agents interacting with each other to help people will soon be at the core of OpenAI's product offerings.
Peter Steinberger is joining OpenAI to drive the next generation of personal agents. He is a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people. We expect this will quickly become core to our…
— Sam Altman (@sama) February 15, 2026
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