I built an OpenClaw AI agent to do my job for me. The results were surprising—and a little scary

Fast Company Tech

by Thomas Smith

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The article introduces **OpenClaw**, an open-source AI platform designed to build powerful AI agents capable of performing complex tasks. Unlike traditional chatbots from companies like OpenAI or Anthropic, OpenClaw is model-agnostic, allowing it to leverage various large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s. Its unique combination of open-source flexibility and access to high-powered LLMs enables it to execute intricate actions, including web crawling, data analysis, and even hardware control. Despite its potential, OpenClaw has faced challenges like trademark disputes with Anthropic and bans by major tech companies due to security concerns. The author experimented with OpenClaw by training an agent named "AI News Desk" to perform their job as a contributing writer for *Fast Company*. The process involved setting up the platform on a Virtual Private Server, overcoming a steep learning curve, and configuring the bot to mimic the author’s writing style. The agent successfully researched AI-related news, crafted compelling headlines, and generated polished, factually accurate articles with inline citations. While OpenClaw demonstrated impressive capabilities in content creation and research, its high cost ($10–$15 per day) limits accessibility for most users. This expense reflects the

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Originally published on Fast Company Tech on 2/26/2026