OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent dubbed "the next ChatGPT", has captured the imagination of millions in China.

TechCentral

OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent created by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, has gone viral in China, becoming one of the fastest-growing GitHub projects ever. Nicknamed 'the lobster' in China, it has attracted everyone from retirees seeking side income to major tech firms like Baidu building products on top of it. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called it 'the next ChatGPT', and Chinese tech stocks surged up to 22% on the enthusiasm. However, the hype faces headwinds: token costs are rising, security concerns are mounting, and Chinese institutions including government agencies and universities are banning its installation. Beijing wants rapid AI commercialization but also fears uncontrolled diffusion, creating tension between innovation and regulatory control.

OpenClaw fever grips China

<p>Yeah gonna be interesting to see the real price of using AI is.</p>


<p>A solution to security and rising token costs is to run everything locally on your own hardware. But it’s not a solution for everyone, especially amid the rise in consumer hardware prices and even as some manufacturers dissolve their consumer markets altogether. Not sure how much longer that will even be a viable option, as it seems Big Tech wants everything to be cloud-based, and they seem to be getting their wish.</p>
