Mirror Review
February 16, 2026
Peter Steinberger, the visionary behind the viral project OpenClaw, is officially joining OpenAI, as announced by CEO Sam Altman on February 15, 2026.
While OpenClaw gained a cult following for its ability to automate complex daily tasks, its creator is now trading independent growth for the vast resources of a global AI leader.
The OpenClaw Founder Joining OpenAI is a crucial moment in the development of autonomous AI, moving Peter’s work from an independent experimental project to a core focus of one of the world’s leading AI labs.
Who Is Peter Steinberger?
Peter Steinberger is the founder of OpenClaw and a prominent software entrepreneur who previously built PSPDFKit into a global B2B success. He recently joined OpenAI to lead the development of next-generation personal agents after his autonomous AI project gained a viral following.
Educational Foundation
Peter Steinberger’s technical expertise is rooted in a formal background in computer science and engineering:
- HTL Braunau: He earned a Higher School Certificate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. During this time, he developed a network protocol for home automation that modulated signals on the power grid.
- Technische Universität Wien: He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer and Information Sciences. At the university, he started the first Mac/iOS developer course and served as a tutor for several years.
The Evolution of Peter Steinberger: From PSPDFKit to OpenClaw
The career of Peter Steinberger shows a steady progression from foundational software engineering to cutting-edge AI automation.
His career began with roles as a software engineer at LOYTEC electronics and a senior iOS developer at Scribd before he bootstrapped PSPDFKit in 2011.
- 2011 – 2021: Building a Global Standard
Peter Steinberger bootstrapped PSPDFKit in 2011, growing it over a decade into a B2B powerhouse used by companies like Apple, Disney, and Dropbox. He eventually sold his shares in October 2021 to pursue new technical challenges.
- 2022 – 2025: Investing and Transitioning
He co-founded Founders of Europe to support early-stage startups while preparing for his next major venture.
- May 2025: Amantus Machina
Peter Steinberger founded Amantus Machina in Vienna, Austria, to focus specifically on hyper-personal AI agents.
- November 2025: The Rise of OpenClaw
Peter Steinberger launched a project originally known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, which quickly gained a “cult following”. The tool became famous for autonomously clearing inboxes, making reservations, and checking in for flights.
- February 2026: Move to OpenAI
After a whirlwind month of interest from major labs, Steinberger chose to join OpenAI to scale his vision of making agents accessible to everyone.
Why the OpenClaw Founder is Joining OpenAI Now
The decision for the OpenClaw founder joining OpenAI came from a desire to move beyond “playground projects” and achieve global impact. Steinberger noted that while OpenClaw could have become a massive standalone company, his true interest lies in the research and safety challenges of agentic AI.
“My next mission is to build an agent that even my mum can use,” Peter Steinberger shared. “That’ll need a much broader change, a lot more thought on how to do it safely, and access to the very latest models and research.”
Sam Altman echoed this sentiment, calling Steinberger a “genius” and stating that while OpenAi hires OpenClaw creator, his expertise will be “core to our product offerings” as OpenAI develops sophisticated, multi-agent systems that make AI respond faster.
Core Motivations of OpenClaw Founder Joining OpenAI
Steinberger cited several key reasons for joining the organization rather than building a standalone company:
- Scaling Beyond the “Playground”: While OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot) gained a massive following for tasks like clearing inboxes and booking flights, Steinberger noted that building an agent “even my mum can use” requires institutional resources.
- Access to Frontier Research: He emphasized the need for “access to the very latest models and research” to handle the complex safety challenges inherent in autonomous agents.
- Alignment of Vision: After discussions with major labs in San Francisco, he concluded that OpenAI was the fastest way to bring his vision to billions of people.
The Future of OpenClaw and Security
Despite the move, Peter Steinberger has ensured that OpenClaw will remain open source. The project is transitioning into an independent foundation that OpenAI will continue to sponsor and support.
This transition comes at a critical time.
Recent reports highlighted OpenClaw’s security risks, including an instance where an OpenClaw agent “went rogue” and spammed messages after being granted iMessage access.
By joining OpenAI, Steinberger gains the institutional support necessary to address the “lethal trifecta” of risks like private data access, external communication, and exposure to untrusted content that currently face autonomous agents.
The collaboration between the OpenClaw founder joining OpenAI and Sam Altman’s team signals a major push toward AI that doesn’t just talk, but actually executes tasks for the user.
Maria Isabel Rodrigues
