Google Antigravity falls to Earth under OpenClaw-fueled compute load
The Register
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Google has suspended customer accounts using its Antigravity agent development app and Gemini services with third-party tools like OpenClaw and OpenCode, citing terms of service violations. This move came after a surge in "malicious usage" that overwhelmed the company's compute resources, leading to degraded service quality for legitimate users. While Google claims the bans were necessary to protect its systems, many developers argue they weren't aware their actions violated the terms, as they had assumed such integrations were allowed.
The issue arose when third-party tools leveraging Google AI services exceeded expected usage levels, straining Google's infrastructure. Varun Mohan, a DeepMind engineer, explained that these tools were being used in ways that bypassed intended product functionality, overwhelming compute capacity and negatively impacting user experience. Despite this, some users maintain they weren't engaging in malicious activities but rather using the products as intended, within their allocated quotas.
This situation reflects broader challenges AI companies face in managing third-party integrations and enforcing terms of service. Google's approach contrasts with Anthropic's method of returning specific error messages for prohibited usage patterns, which some argue would be a more transparent and fair solution. Critics suggest that sudden account suspensions without clear communication harm trust and alienate paying customers.
The incident highlights the competitive dynamics in the AI market, where companies may oversell services to gain market share, only to face capacity issues later. As AI adoption grows, questions about transparency, user agreements, and ethical usage will likely become more critical for both providers and consumers. This case underscores the need for clearer communication and better resource management by tech firms to avoid alienating users and ensuring fair access to their services.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/23/2026