OpenClaw, the “AI that actually does things,” might not even need instructions to compromise users. Experts say- know where to draw the line.
AI is being marketed as our assistant- it’ll make our tasks easy to manage and let us focus on the work that actually amplifies our creativity. And recently, after Ben Affleck’s stance on AI-creativity discourse went viral, our limited perspective has been brought into question.
Of course, artificial intelligence can’t replace critical thinking and creativity- so what can it actually do for us? Well, it can simplify our tasks- it’s undeniable.
It’s something Anthropic’s OpenClaw is precisely aiming at- to actually say it’ll do something and not hallucinate, and end up making a mistake. It does exactly what it’s told to do, depending on what you give it access to, and that’s intriguing because other substandard AI agents have barely achieved that without hampering the quality of the workflow itself.
But this viral AI assistant? It’ll trade stocks, manage your email, and send your partner “good morning” all on your behalf. But that’s something we also imagined Claude, Gemini, and Copilot doing for us. So, you may ask- how does OpenClaw stand apart from all these models?
According to a handful of AI-obsessed fanatics, OpenClaw is a step ahead in capabilities entailed by the previously mentioned agents. And maybe a small glimpse at an AGI moment- primarily because users aren’t just asking it to do things, they’re prompting the agent to go do tasks without needing their permission.
Now, that’s a phase we have all been pondering about: autonomous agents.
This “natural-next-step” fairly hit a snag when several of the existing AI assistants offered low-quality outcomes. Basically, they would hallucinate random vacations or user calendars when asked to book an appointment. Even amidst a flurry of automation tools, manual intervention became imperative.
That’s precisely why OpenClaw is deemed as much more. It can operate autonomously based on the level of permission it has been granted. For instance, when asked to manage emails, it would create specific filters. When something happens now, it initiates a second action without a thought or added layers of communication.
However, no tech is your assistant in the true sense. There are security risks that always linger, especially when it comes to AI. And when you’re handing over the agency to a so-called autonomous agent, it could easily backfire.
In expert opinion? If you don’t understand the security implications of such a tool, it’s advisable not use it.
