☕️ OpenClaw Joins OpenAI — And Everything Changes

AI is entering its execution phase. For the past two years, competition centered on model benchmarks — reasoning scores, multimodal capabilities, context windows. Now the battlefield is shifting to agents: systems that don’t just answer prompts, but execute multi-step workflows across tools, files, and platforms. This week marked a clear inflection point. What’s emerging is not just faster AI — but AI embedded into labor, messaging, defense, and media infrastructure.

Join us at AI Tangle as we untangle this week's happenings in AI!

All Things AI 2026 — March 23–24 | Durham Convention Center, NC

I produce the All Things AI Conference with my business partner,Todd Lewis, founder of All Things Open. We are committed to upskilling and aim to deliver the most valuable, accessible expert-led workshops in the industry. Here’s what’s on tap in Durham in March. Workshops sold out in 2025. Don't wait. Check out all the workshops here.

Prices increase after March 17. Compare that to $1,000–$3,000+ at other AI conferences.

🎟️ Get Your Tickets Today!

OpenAI has hired Peter Steinberger, the developer behind OpenClaw, a viral open-source AI agent that can perform real-world tasks such as booking travel, managing email, coordinating research, and executing structured workflows. The repository surpassed 175,000 GitHub stars in just a few months, becoming one of the fastest-growing agent frameworks in the ecosystem. Steinberger reportedly considered Meta before choosing OpenAI. Importantly, OpenClaw will remain open source under an independent foundation, with OpenAI committing to sponsor its continued development.

This move signals a structural shift. OpenClaw represents a layer above base models — an orchestration system that turns language intelligence into action. At the same time, infrastructure providers like MyClaw.ai report that more than 90% of users independently select Claude Opus 4.6 to run OpenClaw, suggesting that model preference is becoming a real-time market signal rather than a marketing narrative. By bringing OpenClaw’s creator into its orbit, OpenAI strengthens its position not just in model development, but in agent deployment and workflow execution. The next phase of competition is not about who answers better — it’s about who acts better.

After losing OpenClaw’s founder to OpenAI, Meta moved quickly. Meta has launched Manus Agents, embedding its AI agent directly into messaging platforms starting with Telegram. Integrations for Messenger, WhatsApp, LINE, Slack, and Discord are expected soon, alongside native Windows and Mac apps. Instead of building bots or separate tools, users can chat with the full Manus agent inside messaging threads and run multi-step workflows including research, summaries, slide creation, document generation, and data processing.

The U.S. Department of Defense is reportedly considering cutting ties with Anthropic following disagreements over how Claude models can be used. Defense officials want access for “all lawful purposes,” including intelligence work and battlefield operations. Anthropic has refused two specific use cases: mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weapons. Anthropic holds a Pentagon contract worth up to $200 million. Replacing Claude would not be simple, but the dispute highlights a growing reality: AI alignment principles now collide directly with national defense priorities.

As AI tools gain browsing and app integrations, security risks increase. OpenAI has introduced Lockdown Mode, an optional security feature for high-risk users like executives and security teams. It limits ChatGPT’s access to external websites and connected apps to reduce prompt injection attacks and data leaks. OpenAI also added “Elevated Risk” labels to features that may expose sensitive data, helping users make informed decisions. As AI agents gain more autonomy, security is becoming a first-order design principle.

ByteDance says it will add stronger safeguards to Seedance 2.0 after receiving cease-and-desist letters from Disney and Paramount. The Motion Picture Association accused the model of enabling unauthorized use of protected characters and franchises in viral AI-generated videos. ByteDance stated it respects intellectual property and is implementing stricter content controls. Meanwhile, industry reports indicate that Seedance 3.0 is nearing release and may support longer-form narrative video generation at lower compute costs.

Keep learning with these upcoming free virtual events from the All Things AI community.

February 18 | Assistants, Agents, Orchestration: What’s Real? What's Risky? — Learn the real differences between assistants, agents, and orchestration — plus where DevOps teams can safely create leverage without introducing risk.

February 24 | The Missing Link: Adding Your Data to Your App — Learn how to connect vibe-coded front-end apps to real data using Make.com webhooks, data mapping, and multi-step automation workflows.

March 3 | How Small Orgs and Non-Profits are Getting Value out of AI — Real-world AI adoption strategies for small organizations and nonprofits, including ready-to-adapt prompts and process maps you can bring back to your team.

🎙️ AI Confidential Podcast - Are LLMs Dead?

🎯 The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise - ChatGPT Just Entered the Ads Game — And Marketers Aren’t Ready

🔮 AI Lesson - The Enterprise Strikes Back at OpenClaw

🎯 The AI Marketing Advantage - Employee-Led AI Experimentation

💡 AI CIO - Fresh Minds Outsmart the Experts

 📚 AIOS - This is an evolving project. I started with a 14-day free AI email course to get smart on AI. But the next evolution will be a ChatGPT Super-user Course and a course on How to Build AI Agents.

The article examines the growing backlash against AI despite its clear productivity benefits. It argues that public anxiety is being fueled by aggressive automation rhetoric from AI leaders, widespread misuse in education and media, and the rapid spread of low-quality or deceptive AI-generated content. The author concludes that while AI remains powerful and useful, companies must address trust, governance, and social impact or risk deepening public resentment.