How the OpenClaw Frenzy Is Testing China’s AI Commitment
A backlash from so-called ‘lobster victims’ following a frenzy to download the AI agent has prompted Chinese regulators into action.
People posing for photos at an event hosted by Tencent to help people install OpenClaw, Shenzhen, China, March 21, 2026. Credit: Sipa via AP Images
China’s latest artificial intelligence obsession is OpenClaw, an AI agent that doesn’t just answer queries like a chatbot, but can also control a computer and carry out tasks from managing social media accounts to monitoring stocks. But like all obsessions, there is a risk that things could turn sour.
From Tencent to MiniMax, dozens of Chinese tech companies have released their own clawlike tools in the past few weeks, often by integrating OpenClaw — an open source software created by A
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