In This Article
Introduction
Before finalizing the name "OpenClaw" on January 30, 2026, Peter Steinberger consulted with OpenAI's Sam Altman to ensure no branding conflicts would arise. The consultation was practical — avoid another Anthropic-style trademark issue — but it also foreshadowed the project's eventual institutional alignment. Sixteen days later, Altman announced that Steinberger would join OpenAI to lead next-generation personal agents.
This small moment — a quick check before a rebrand — turned out to be the first thread of a much larger story. The OpenClaw-Sam Altman consultation is now part of the project's lore: the moment the creator of the most successful open-source agent framework connected with the CEO of the most influential AI company. This article tells the full story.
The Consultation
Steinberger had just rebranded from Moltbot (which had replaced Clawdbot after Anthropic's trademark concerns). He wanted "OpenClaw" — Open for community, Claw for lobster. Before committing, he reached out to Altman: would "OpenClaw" conflict with any OpenAI trademarks or products? Altman said no. Steinberger finalized the name. The project hit 100K stars that week.
The consultation was brief. No formal agreement. No NDA. Just a professional courtesy — Steinberger had learned from the Clawdbot/Moltbot experience. Check before you commit. Altman, as CEO of OpenAI, was a logical person to ask. The AI ecosystem is small; connections exist. The answer was straightforward: no conflict. OpenClaw was clear to use.
Context: The Moltbot Rebrand
The consultation happened in the wake of a chaotic 72-hour rebrand. Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw. Anthropic had raised concerns about "Clawdbot" (too close to "Claude"). Steinberger needed a final name that wouldn't trigger another round of trademark issues. He'd already been through it once. Consulting Altman was risk mitigation.
Why Altman specifically? OpenAI is the other major AI lab. If "OpenClaw" could be confused with an OpenAI product or initiative, better to know before the rebrand. Altman's "no" gave Steinberger confidence. The name stuck.
Foreshadowing
Why consult Altman specifically? Steinberger had connections in the AI ecosystem. The consultation established a relationship. When OpenAI looked to accelerate personal agent development, Steinberger was the obvious candidate — he'd built the most successful open-source agent framework in history. The rebrand consultation was the first thread of that narrative.
In retrospect, the consultation looks like a prelude. Altman was paying attention. OpenClaw's growth — 100K stars in days — was impossible to ignore. The project validated the agentic model. OpenAI wanted to lead in personal agents. Steinberger had built the reference implementation. The acqui-hire made sense. The consultation was the first contact.
February 2026: The Acqui-Hire
February 14, 2026: Altman announced Steinberger joining OpenAI. OpenClaw moved to independent Foundation, OpenAI as sponsor. The consultation had been the prelude to a much larger collaboration.
The structure was deliberate: OpenClaw wasn't acquired. The Foundation remained independent. Steinberger joined OpenAI to work on personal agents — likely drawing on OpenClaw's architecture and community insights. The project stayed open source. The consultation had established trust; the acqui-hire built on it. See OpenAI acqui-hire for the full announcement and implications.
Why It Matters
For the community: the consultation shows that OpenClaw's creator was thinking ahead. Professional. Careful. The acqui-hire validated the project — OpenAI doesn't hire people to lead categories it doesn't care about. Personal agents are strategic.
For the ecosystem: the OpenClaw-OpenAI relationship is now formal. The Foundation has a sponsor. Steinberger has resources. The project benefits. The consultation was the seed.
Wrapping Up
The Sam Altman consultation was a small moment with large consequences. A quick check before a rebrand led to a relationship that shaped the agentic landscape. See OpenAI acqui-hire, Foundation, and Peter Steinberger for the full story.