China’s OpenClaw Frenzy: Tech Giants, Governments, and the Public Embrace AI Agents

China is experiencing a rapid surge in the adoption of OpenClaw, a popular open-source artificial intelligence tool, with major technology companies and local governments actively expanding access to the lobster-themed AI agent in recent weeks. AI agents, which function as digital assistants capable of performing tasks like sending emails, scheduling meetings, and booking reservations with minimal human intervention, are distinct from chatbots in their proactive capabilities. This often necessitates broader data and system access, raising important privacy and security considerations.

Chinese tech giant Tencent announced on Tuesday the launch of a comprehensive suite of user-friendly AI products built on the OpenClaw platform. Dubbed "lobster special forces," these offerings are integrated with Tencent’s ubiquitous superapp, WeChat. On the same day, startup Zhipu AI unveiled its localized version of OpenClaw, providing an AI agent pre-equipped with over 50 popular functionalities through a simplified "one-click installation" process. These initiatives, alongside similar efforts from other Chinese companies, have significantly driven consumer interest, with OpenClaw usage in China now surpassing that in the United States, according to cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard.

Jaylen He, CEO of Violoop, a Shenzhen-based startup developing a device with similar features to OpenClaw but with enhanced security, commented on China’s technological adoption: "In terms of adopting the new technologies, I think China definitely has a really large community that always wants to try what’s there, what’s new, and don’t want to be left behind." He further noted the widespread adoption, stating, "I have friends who are not even in the tech industry … they are doing this, they are also running it."

As China’s economy navigates challenges, OpenClaw presents an avenue for domestic tech companies to attract paying users. The widespread adoption of OpenClaw is also boosting the popularity of Chinese-developed large language models, according to Winston Ma, an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law. Autonomous AI agents like OpenClaw are typically model-agnostic, allowing integration with various large language models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

OpenRouter, a startup providing developers access to AI models via a unified interface, reported that the top three AI tools utilized by OpenClaw users on its marketplace in the past month were all from Chinese companies, with their combined usage double that of the three most popular Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude models. Chinese-made AI models released this year have demonstrated a significant narrowing of the gap with their U.S. counterparts, offering comparable AI capabilities at a substantially lower cost. This price advantage makes OpenClaw more accessible for users.

OpenClaw, initially launched in November, enables users to interact with the AI agent through popular messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, facilitating autonomous task execution. Peter Steinberger, the Austrian developer behind OpenClaw, joined OpenAI in mid-February.

Easing Installation Hurdles

Despite OpenClaw’s recent surge in popularity, experts have previously highlighted the complex installation process as a potential barrier to mass adoption for non-technical users. Chinese technology companies are actively working to simplify this process. Following an initial wave of interest last month, Chinese social media platforms have been inundated with posts detailing company-organized installation events. Some organizers have even distributed red lobster plush toys, reinforcing the project’s distinctive branding.

ByteDance’s cloud unit, Volcano Engine, recently introduced "ArkClaw," a version of OpenClaw accessible through a web browser, thereby eliminating the need for intricate local setup. Furthermore, some companies are providing direct support to consumers in China seeking to utilize OpenClaw with their existing tools. Tencent hosted a complimentary in-person OpenClaw setup session in Shenzhen, assisting "hundreds" of individuals in installing the tool on TencentCloud. JD.com launched a dedicated webpage on Tuesday, allowing users to pay 399 yuan ($58) for remote assistance from Lenovo’s IT maintenance team, Baiying, to deploy the software. Meituan reportedly announced a similar collaboration with Lenovo on Monday.

The increasing interest in OpenClaw is reshaping how Chinese consumers approach AI payments. Violoop, which plans to launch its first device on Kickstarter in April for approximately $300 per unit, with a $30 monthly subscription for AI services, initially intended to focus on the U.S. and other international markets. However, the startup is now considering a China launch alongside its overseas expansion.

"After 2026, after OpenClaw, I think we are seeing a significant rise, both in terms of [interest in] paying for good models and also that MiniMax and Kimi have released very capable models," He stated. "I wouldn’t say that they can surpass maybe ChatGPT or Anthropic, but they are definitely approaching that and definitely are creating value for users. So this is a new change for us." The startup has secured at least two rounds of initial funding this year, primarily to cover production costs.

Governments Get Involved

Despite official warnings from China’s state media regarding OpenClaw’s security risks, several local governments have introduced incentives in the past week to encourage companies to develop applications using the AI tool. Shenzhen’s Longgang district and Hefei’s high-tech development zone have proposed equity financing support of up to 10 million yuan ($1.46 million), alongside direct subsidies targeted at "one-person companies" utilizing OpenClaw. A district within Suzhou city has announced similar subsidies, coupled with 30 days of complimentary office space, accommodation, and meals. The concept of "one-person company," referring to individuals or small teams leveraging AI to rapidly build businesses, has gained considerable traction in China, particularly as Beijing recently concluded a meeting to formalize a five-year plan aimed at stimulating domestic technological development.

The growing Chinese engagement with OpenClaw contributes to a broader global trend. The AI agent project has achieved a significant milestone, garnering more stars on the GitHub coding platform than Linux, an open-source operating system foundational to modern computing. "This is like the 2022 ChatGPT moment. This is like the 202[5] DeepSeek moment," remarked Violoop’s He. "I think the craving, the desire, for a personal assistant that can really help the user, the desire has been there, and has been suppressed for a very long time."

CNBC’s Anniek Bao contributed to this report.