Schoolchildren and pensioners alike raise "lobsters" as OpenClaw excitement spreads throughout China

A new AI tool called OpenClaw is quickly gaining popularity in China, attracting users from different age groups, including retirees and young learners. A 60-year-old retired electronics worker in Beijing, Fan Xinquan, is among those using the tool. He believes OpenClaw can better organise his industry knowledge compared to traditional chatbots like DeepSeek.

OpenClaw works differently from regular chatbots. It can connect with multiple software and hardware systems and learn from data with minimal human input. Because of this, many people see it as a powerful tool for improving productivity and even creating new income sources. Some users are experimenting with it for tasks like stock selection, building apps, or running e-commerce businesses.

The tool, created by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger, has become one of the fastest-growing projects on GitHub since its launch in November. Its rapid rise has also influenced the stock market, with Chinese tech stocks seeing significant gains as companies introduce products based on this technology.

The trend has become so widespread that even school communities are talking about it. In some cases, children are asking their parents to let them use OpenClaw after seeing others using it. At the same time, local governments in China are supporting innovation by offering subsidies to encourage “one-person companies” powered by AI.

However, not everyone is convinced. Some users complain that the tool is expensive to use, as token costs can add up quickly without delivering useful results. Social media posts have criticised it as being overhyped and not practical for ordinary users.

There are also growing concerns about security and regulation. Chinese authorities have warned about potential risks, and several institutions, including government offices and universities, have restricted the use of OpenClaw. Officials have stressed the need to ensure safety while promoting innovation.

Experts say the Chinese government wants to promote AI development but also maintain control to avoid risks. Another challenge is technical compatibility, as OpenClaw needs to work smoothly across different apps and platforms owned by competing companies.

Despite these issues, interest in OpenClaw continues to grow. Demonstrations have shown that the tool can perform tasks like placing orders through voice commands, although the process can still be slow. Overall, while the technology shows strong potential, it is still evolving and facing both technical and regulatory challenges.