What is OpenClaw and why is it trending on GitHub?

OpenClaw is an open-source autonomous AI agent that connects to messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. It went viral in early 2026, crossing 335K GitHub stars in 60 days—faster than any software project in GitHub history.

How did OpenClaw beat React in GitHub stars?

OpenClaw accumulated 335K stars in ~60 days starting November 2025, while React took 13 years to reach 243K. The rapid adoption was driven by viral social media momentum, especially in China, and major platform integrations.

Who created OpenClaw?

Austrian developer Peter Steinberger created OpenClaw (originally called Clawdbot) in November 2025. In February 2026 he joined OpenAI; the project moved to an independent open-source foundation.

Is OpenAI acquiring OpenClaw?

No. OpenAI sponsors the project but does not own it. The MIT license remains in place and community governance is preserved.

How many GitHub stars does OpenClaw have?

As of March 2026, OpenClaw has over 335,000 GitHub stars and 47,700 forks, making it the most-starred active software project on GitHub.

What platforms does OpenClaw support?

OpenClaw connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, Slack, Google Chat, Signal, Feishu, and more via a single messaging gateway.

What does NemoClaw mean for OpenClaw users?

NemoClaw is Nvidia's enterprise-grade OpenClaw distribution with added security guardrails, privacy routing, and NeMo AI tooling integration, announced at GTC 2026.