OpenAI has officially launched its next product phase, hiring OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger to lead the development of "next-generation personal AI agents." CEO Sam Altman announced on February 16 that the company's product roadmap will be built around multi-agent systems, where multiple highly intelligent AI agents collaborate to complete valuable tasks for users.
Multi-Agent Systems as Core Strategy
Altman stated the new architecture moves beyond single-chat interfaces, using specialized agents working together on complex workflows. He also confirmed that OpenClaw will continue as an open-source project, operated by an OpenAI-backed foundation to ensure independent governance of its code.
Founder: "Change the World, Not Build a Big Company"
Peter Steinberger wrote on his personal blog: "What I want to do is change the world, not build a big company. Teaming up with OpenAI is the fastest way to get this technology into everyone's hands." He previously revealed receiving acquisition offers from both Meta and OpenAI, but insisted on a Google Chrome/Chromium-like model—open-source with independent governance—before agreeing to join.
OpenClaw: A Persistent AI Agent Platform
OpenClaw focuses on "persistent AI agents" that directly connect to communication platforms and external services, allowing users to run task-executing AI bots locally rather than relying solely on centralized chat apps like ChatGPT or Claude. The tool, launched only months ago, has already attracted major tech attention.
Anthropic Previously Sent Trademark Notice
Last month, AI firm Anthropic sent Steinberger a trademark infringement notice, claiming "Clawd" was too similar to its own product name "Claude," and stated there is no formal partnership or endorsement between the two parties. ZenGen Labs co-founder Dermot McGrath commented: "This is a smart move for OpenAI, but Anthropic should have got there first." He also warned that the real test is how much resources and attention OpenClaw will receive going forward.
While skepticism about OpenClaw's prospects remains, given Steinberger's ambition to build "AI agents your mom can use," McGrath expects OpenAI to soon deliver impressive products. The OpenClaw ecosystem is already growing fast, with its community directory listing over 100 AI agent skills and extensions, recent beta security patches, and a new Telegram message streaming feature—signaling strong ongoing development momentum.