You’ve probably already heard all about OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot). The viral sensation is an open-source AI assistant that runs on your own device, connects with messaging apps you already use, and goes beyond chat to actually execute tasks like managing your email, calendars, files, workflows, and more. Now meet the man behind it. YC’s Raphael Schaad sat down with Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw, to discuss the “aha” moment behind the viral personal AI agent, why local-first agents could replace many of today’s apps, and how personal agents will reshape the future of software.

Chapters:

00:00 – OpenClaw takes over the internet

00:44 – Life after going viral

01:28 – Why OpenClaw took off, what sets it apart

02:56 – Bots talking to bots (and hiring humans)

04:11 – From “God AI” to swarm intelligence

05:07 – Peter’s original “aha” moment

06:38 – Rebuilding the agent as a conversation

07:38 – The moment it exceeded expectations

10:21 – Are apps going to disappear?

12:31 – Memory, data silos, and ownership

14:39 – The privacy reality of personal agents

15:05 – Letting the bot loose in public Discord

16:55 – Giving an agent a personality

18:19 – Contrarian building philosophy

20:09 – CLIs vs MCPs

21:28 – Building for humans first

21:46 – The road ahead

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