#OpenClawFounderJoinsOpenAI OpenClaw Founder Joins OpenAI
In a major "acqui-hire" move this week (February 2026), OpenAI has brought on Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral open-source AI agent project OpenClaw.
The Mission: Steinberger is joining to lead the "next generation of personal agents." His stated goal is to build an AI agent so intuitive that "even my mum can use it."
The Product: OpenClaw (formerly known as Clawdbot) became a GitHub sensation for its ability to autonomously manage emails, calendars, and even book flights.
Open Source Commitment: Interestingly, OpenClaw will not be privatized. It is moving into an independent foundation and will remain open source, with OpenAI providing ongoing support.
The Competitive Edge: Steinberger reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from Meta to join Sam Altman’s team, citing OpenAI’s "hard power" in compute and alignment with his vision for$AI
