What is Clawdbot?
Clawdbot (recently renamed Moltbot as of January 2026) is an open-source AI personal assistant that has captured tech world attention. Created by developer Peter Steinberger, known for PSPDFKit, Clawdbot has gained cult following among developers and early adopters.
Unlike typical AI chatbots that respond to questions, Clawdbot is agentic AI: it executes actions on devices and across connected services.
What makes it different
Traditional AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude work in conversational loops: ask, answer. Clawdbot goes further with autonomous, multi-step actions on your behalf.
Runs locally
Data stays on devices. Clawdbot doesn’t send personal information to third-party servers. AI processing uses APIs from providers like Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI, but files, emails, and personal data remain under control.
Remembers everything
Clawdbot maintains persistent memory across conversations. Tell it preferences once, and it remembers. Mention project deadlines, and it tracks them. Context accumulates over time, making the assistant increasingly useful.
Takes action
The breakthrough feature. Clawdbot can:
- Send emails and manage calendars
- Run commands and process files on computers
- Control smart home devices and IoT equipment
- Write and execute code for automation tasks
- Monitor and notify about important events
- Take multi-step actions to complete complex tasks
Works where you already are
Clawdbot integrates with existing messaging platforms: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, and others. Messages sync across channels, starting conversations on Telegram and continuing on Discord.
Why it’s going viral
Several factors drive rapid adoption:
Open source: Code is freely available, building trust and allowing community security verification.
Privacy-first: Running locally means data isn’t harvested for training or advertising.
Actually useful: Unlike many AI tools feeling like demos, Clawdbot solves real problems with real actions.
Developer-friendly: The tool resonates with technical users appreciating power and configurability.
Silicon Valley developers share setup guides, best practices, and memes. Many run dedicated machines (commonly Mac Minis or cloud VPS instances) with Clawdbot connected to email, calendar, and other services.
Who is it for?
Currently, Clawdbot targets developers and tinkerers, not average consumers. Setup requires:
- Comfort with command-line tools
- Understanding of API keys and configuration
- Security awareness (significant access is granted)
- Willingness to troubleshoot
For technical users wanting AI assistants that do things rather than just talk, Clawdbot is worth exploring.
How to try it
Simplest start:
npm install -g clawdbot
clawd onboard
clawdOnboarding walks through connecting AI providers and chat platforms.
For always-on operation, many users run Clawdbot on dedicated VPS. This provides 24/7 availability, better security isolation, and access from anywhere. See our guide on self-hosting Clawdbot on VPS for detailed setup instructions.
Security considerations
Clawdbot’s power brings responsibility. AI agent access is granted to email, files, and connected services. Important precautions:
- Never expose Clawdbot gateway to public internet
- Use strong, randomly-generated authentication tokens
- Consider running on isolated VPS rather than main computer
- Use Tailscale or similar for secure remote access
- Regularly audit what actions Clawdbot takes
The project takes security seriously, but agentic AI nature requires understanding what’s being deployed.
Future of AI assistants
Clawdbot represents a shift in AI interaction. Instead of asking for information, tasks are delegated. Instead of copy-pasting responses, AI takes action directly.
Whether Clawdbot specifically becomes mainstream or inspires similar tools, this agentic approach to AI assistance is likely here to stay.
Ready to self-host Clawdbot? Deploy a VPS and follow our secure setup guide.