# OpenClaw

> **TL;DR.** [OpenClaw](https://openclaw.

- **Category:** AI / Developer Tools / Agent Frameworks
- **Stage:** established
- **Age:** 201 days
- **Origin date:** 2025-11-14
- **First detected:** 2026-04-15
- **Canonical URL:** https://earlyterms.com/term/openclaw
- **Sources:** 8 primary URLs

## Definition

[OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai/) is an open-source self-hosted personal AI agent: a long-running runtime that connects to any LLM (Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Kimi, Gemini) and drives itself from messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Teams). Users install skills — directories with `SKILL.md` tool instructions — globally or per workspace.

OpenClaw shipped as a Peter Steinberger weekend project called Clawdbot on November 14, 2025, hit 8k stars in 72 hours, was renamed Moltbot then [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) after an Anthropic trademark complaint, and by March 1, 2026 [overtook React](https://www.star-history.com/blog/openclaw-surpasses-react-most-starred-software) as GitHub's most-starred non-aggregator project. Mid-April 2026: ~359k stars, 73k forks, ~135k live instances.

## Analogy

Homebrew for personal AI agents — a self-hosted runtime plus a skills ecosystem, with messaging apps as the terminal.

## Why it's emerging now

OpenClaw overtook React on GitHub by March 1, 2026 and Anthropic's April 4 subscription ban turned a product story into a policy story. The 'Tell HN' thread hit 1,099 points, CVE-2026-33579 landed, and competitors (Hermes Agent, Claude Cowork) now define themselves against OpenClaw — the signature of a category name.

## Related terms

- *competitor:* Hermes Agent
- *competitor:* Claude Cowork
- *competitor:* Claude Code
- *competitor:* Managed Agents
- *competitor:* AutoGPT
- *alias:* Clawdbot
- *alias:* Moltbot
- *related:* Agent Harness
- *related:* Agent Loop
- *related:* Coding Agents
- *related:* MCP Server
- *related:* Peter Steinberger
- *related:* CVE-2026-33579

## Sources

1. [OpenClaw — official site](https://openclaw.ai/)
2. [openclaw/openclaw on GitHub (359k+ stars)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw)
3. [OpenClaw — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenClaw)
4. [TechCrunch — Anthropic temporarily banned OpenClaw's creator from accessing Claude](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/anthropic-temporarily-banned-openclaws-creator-from-accessing-claude/)
5. [The Register — Anthropic closes door on subscription use of OpenClaw](https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/06/anthropic_closes_door_on_subscription/)
6. [Star History — OpenClaw surpasses React on GitHub](https://www.star-history.com/blog/openclaw-surpasses-react-most-starred-software)
7. [36Kr (English) — OpenClaw Popularity Exposes 12 Fatal Hidden Dangers](https://eu.36kr.com/en/p/3768662327935747)
8. [Hacker News — Tell HN: Anthropic no longer allowing Claude Code subscriptions to use OpenClaw (1,099 pts)](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47633396)

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_Generated by EarlyTerms · https://earlyterms.com/term/openclaw_