OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent platform hailed by a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen as one of the "top ten software breakthroughs of all time," dropped its v2026.3.22 update on March 22. Founder @steipete led the overhaul, touching everything from the underlying architecture to model compatibility. The community calls it a "directory-worthy" mega release.
ClawHub: Agents Now Self-Service Plugins
The headline feature is the ClawHub plugin marketplace becoming the default installation source. AI agents can now autonomously search and pull plugins on demand, no longer locked into initial settings. Security gets a boost too: ClawHub validates skill packages better than npm, cutting malicious code risks. It also bundles top search tools like Exa, Tavily, and Firecrawl, with precise date filtering for fresher, more accurate data.
Model Support Boost: GPT-5.4 Family and Per-Agent Reasoning
On the model front, OpenClaw natively supports GPT-5.4, GPT-5.4-mini, and GPT-5.4-nano. A new per-agent reasoning mode gives each agent its own logic instead of sharing a global config, sharpening multi-agent orchestration. For Chinese-language tasks, the platform integrates MiniMax M2.7 natively.
Execution Environment: Docker Out, SSH Sandboxes In
To tackle code execution security concerns, v2026.3.22 introduces an OpenShell + SSH sandbox architecture. Developers can skip heavy Docker setups and run tasks in lightweight SSH sandboxes using protected keys and certificates. Cold start latency drops sharply.
Key Parameter Changes
Session timeout jumps from 600 seconds (10 minutes) to 48 hours, ideal for long-cycle jobs. Execution environment shifts from Docker to SSH sandboxes for better security and lighter weight. Plugin source moves from npm to ClawHub official marketplace. Model support upgrades from GPT-4o/early GPT-5 to the full GPT-5.4 family plus MiniMax M2.7. Error handling swaps frequent JSON error dumps for plain-text responses, making conversations more natural.
Upgrade Notes: Path Migration and /btw Feature
Returning users should note the state directory has moved from ~/.moltbot to ~/.openclaw — back up before upgrading. The update also adds a /btw sidebar feature similar to Claude, letting users ask side questions mid-conversation without interrupting the main task thread.