No. of Recommendations: 1
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/29/business/china-...OpenClaw, an autonomous artificial intelligence tool, which can be programmed to run tasks nonstop with full control of the user’s device.
Rather than a simple question-and-answer format like most AI chatbots, OpenClaw uses the same underlying technology to independently operate apps, web browsers or smart home appliances based on commands via commonly used messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Created by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger and released in November, the free AI agent has been hailed as a new way to supercharge productivity. Jensen Huang, CEO of the US chip giant Nvidia, has called it “the next ChatGPT” and “the most popular open-source project in the history of humanity.”
In China, OpenClaw has received a particularly fervent welcome among AI enthusiasts and novices alike. According to analysis of global public networks by SecurityScorecard, a New York-based cybersecurity firm, China has more OpenClaw users than any other country, with about double the activity of the US, which has next-largest base of users.
On Chinese e-commerce sites, technical experts sell OpenClaw installation and configuration services for anywhere between $7 and $100.
The hype around OpenClaw has prompted other Chinese tech conglomerates to launch their own versions, with names like DuClaw, QClaw and ArkClaw. Local governments have jumped on the bandwagon, pledging subsidies for businesses using the virtual AI assistant to boost regional development.
OpenClaw’s nascent success exemplifies how China’s official embrace of advanced technology can translate into grassroots enthusiasm as Beijing pursues domestic growth and an ambitious global agenda. But the push is accompanied by concerns over cybersecurity risks and the potential for widespread job displacement.
Amid a wave of cybersecurity alerts from Chinese authorities, two state-backed cybersecurity agencies flagged again last week that OpenClaw could pose “serious security risks,” including remote takeover and data leaks. They released detailed safety guidelines for all users — from individuals to enterprises and cloud providers.
The kind of automation OpenClaw offers has spurred hopes of efficiency gains in China –– where 93% of respondents to a 2025 KPMG survey said they already use AI in their work.
In comparison, the US has adopted a warier stance towards OpenClaw and other AI tools. In the KPMG survey, more American respondents were worried about AI than they were optimistic, and only 35% said the benefits outweighed the risks, compared with 69% in China.
Corki Xie, a 27-year-old software engineer in Beijing, installed OpenClaw a month ago, using it to respond to work messages, analyze data and post articles on social media.
“The gains in efficiency are quite significant,” he said, though he added he’s run into some errors.
Jeff
