OpenAI Bets Big on AI Agents, Hires OpenClaw Founder Peter Steinberger

- Sam Altman called Peter Steinberger "a genius" in the announcement post on 'X.' - Peter Steinberger will be part of OpenAI's future core products. - The goal is to strengthen OpenAI's AI agents and multi-agent systems.

Adepu Bindu

16 Feb 2026 — 2 min read

OpenAI Bets Big on AI Agents, Hires Openclaw Founder Peter Steinberger

OpenAI hires another AI star to its team. We are talking about Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, who recently joined OpenAI to build the world's powerful AI assistants. On February 16, 2026, CEO Sam Altman posted the big announcement on his 'X' account. This move is clearly futuristic (especially in AI), given that the company is focusing on AI that not just responds but actively does things (digitally) for people. Why did Steinberger join OpenAI? What will Steinberger do at OpenAI? What happens to his OpenClaw? For all that, learn more.

What Will Steinberger Do at OpenAI?

According to OpenAI, it's working on a personal AI agent. These personal agents are like smart digital assistants who can perform tasks on your behalf (automatically and on command), not just answer questions. For instance, book the restaurants, send confirmation messages, check your calendars, and more.

Not just that, the company is also working on "multi-agent.” These agents can communicate and perform complex tasks together. For instance, one agent might handle your travel, another handles emails, and another handles payments. Sam Altman calls this the core part of OpenAI’s future products.

What Is Openclaw?

Steinberger created an open-source AI program called OpenClaw. The tool is known for its autonomous agentic tasks, such as:

Clear your email inbox automatically
Make restaurant reservations
Check in for flights
Send and receive messages
Connect to apps like WhatsApp and Slack
It works via instructions through messaging apps.

The name was changed several times. Clawdbot was the original name. It was then changed to Moltbot (more specifically because Anthropic threatened legal action). "Clawdbot" sounded too similar to "Claude", and finally it became "OpenClaw," Steinberger said he simply liked this name better.

Will Steinberger Still Support Openclaw?

Even though Steinberger is joining OpenAI, he'll still be supporting OpenClaw. Steinberger is creating a foundation to manage it. Furthermore, the tool will remain open-source and will receive support from OpenAI. However, the project will continue growing independently.

Why Did Steinberger Join OpenAI?

According to Steinberger, he is joining OpenAI because it gives him:

Access to the most advanced AI models
Access to cutting-edge research
Resources to build safer and better AI
Faster ability to bring his ideas to millions of people

Final Thoughts…

This collaboration is a significant step for AI agents. However, cybersecurity experts urge that this type of AI is risky. One has called it "lethal trifecta,” meaning dangerous (if not properly controlled). The technology works in a personalised manner, so it needs access to private data and may be exposed to unknown or unsafe content. Only time can reveal more details. For that, keep in touch.