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OpenClaw is one of those projects that spreads fast because it feels different the moment you try it. People don’t describe it as a chatbot. They describe it as something that lives alongside them, runs quietly in the background, and steps in when asked.
Formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent designed to stay online continuously, keep memory across conversations, and take real actions on the system it runs on. Instead of opening a web app or starting a new chat each time, you interact with it through messaging apps you already use.
This article explains what OpenClaw is, how it works, what makes it different from typical AI tools, and why so many people are moving it off their laptops and onto servers.
Definition: What is OpenClaw (ex-Moltbot)?
OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI agent that runs as a long-lived service on your own machine or server. It connects to AI model providers, messaging platforms, and local system tools to perform tasks, maintain state, and communicate proactively.
Unlike browser-based assistants, OpenClaw does not reset when a session ends. It keeps memory on disk. Conversations, preferences, task history, credentials, and configuration are stored as files you can inspect and manage yourself.
You do not “open” OpenClaw. You run it. Once it’s running, it behaves more like an operator than a chat window.
The official project documentation and source code are available on the OpenClaw website and the OpenClaw GitHub.
How OpenClaw differs from chat-based AI tools
The easiest way to misunderstand OpenClaw is to compare it directly to tools like ChatGPT or Claude in a browser. The interaction looks similar at first, but the behavior is not.
OpenClaw is built around persistence and autonomy. It remembers past interactions without you pasting context again. It can initiate actions without being prompted every time. It can follow up later because it knows what happened before.
Another key difference is location. OpenClaw runs on your hardware. Your data is not stored in a third-party SaaS database by default. Logs, memory files, and configuration live on disk under your control.
This design choice is intentional. OpenClaw trades convenience for ownership and flexibility. That trade is exactly why it appeals to developers, researchers, and people comfortable running their own services.
The agent loop and how OpenClaw thinks
OpenClaw operates using an agent loop. You give it a goal. It breaks that goal into steps. It decides which tools it needs, uses them, evaluates results, and continues until it reaches a stopping point.
This loop is not limited to text generation. Depending on configuration, OpenClaw can:
- Run shell commands on the host system
- Read and write files
- Control a browser to navigate websites or fill forms
- Call external APIs
- Send messages on your behalf
These actions are real. When OpenClaw edits a file, that file changes on disk. When it sends a message, the recipient receives it. This is why permissions matter and why OpenClaw is not meant to be run carelessly.
Memory and persistence
Memory is one of the defining traits of OpenClaw. It does not rely on hidden embeddings stored somewhere else. Its memory is explicit and file-based.
Conversations, notes, preferences, task state, and other long-term context are written to disk as plain files. You can read them. You can edit them. You can back them up or delete them.
This transparency is powerful, but it comes with responsibility. If the system is compromised, that memory is exposed. OpenClaw’s own documentation is upfront about this risk and encourages careful isolation.
Messaging platforms OpenClaw integrates with
OpenClaw is designed to fit into communication tools people already use instead of forcing a new interface.
Common integrations include:
- Telegram
- Signal
- Discord
- Slack
- iMessage
You interact with OpenClaw by sending messages the same way you would message a contact. This makes it feel less like software and more like a collaborator that happens to live in your chat list.
One subtle but important detail is that OpenClaw can message you first. Scheduled checks, background tasks, or long-running processes can trigger messages without you asking again.
AI model providers and flexibility
OpenClaw does not ship with a single AI model. Instead, it routes requests through providers you configure.
Common setups use hosted APIs from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. Advanced users sometimes run local models, but that usually requires powerful hardware and careful tuning.
This separation between the agent and the model gives OpenClaw flexibility. You can switch providers, change models, or adjust behavior without rewriting the entire system.
What people use OpenClaw for in practice
Real-world usage tends to fall into a few recurring patterns:
Personal automation and monitoring. Users set up recurring checks, reminders, summaries, and alerts that arrive via chat only when something needs attention.
System-level automation. OpenClaw runs scripts, manages files, coordinates tasks, or keeps an eye on services running elsewhere.
Browser-driven workflows. It can navigate websites, submit forms, extract information, or complete multi-step flows that would normally require manual effort.
Developer assistance. Some users treat OpenClaw as a persistent coding companion that runs tests, edits files, and keeps context between iterations.
What ties these together is continuity. OpenClaw remembers what happened yesterday, last week, or last month, and that memory influences how it behaves next.
Why many users move OpenClaw off their laptop
A pattern shows up quickly. People start OpenClaw locally, then realize it does not belong on their personal machine.
There are practical reasons for this:
- It runs continuously and should not stop when a laptop sleeps
- It stores sensitive memory and credentials
- It benefits from stable networking and a fixed IP
- It should be isolated from personal files and accounts
Because of that, many users migrate OpenClaw to a dedicated server or VPS where it can run uninterrupted and separated from daily work.
