OpenClaw Developer Peter Steinberger Joins OpenAI, Rejects Meta's Lucrative Offer
In a significant development within the artificial intelligence community, Peter Steinberger, the esteemed maintainer of the OpenClaw library, has officially announced his decision to join OpenAI, the pioneering company behind the widely acclaimed ChatGPT chatbot. This move comes after Steinberger received competing offers from two of the industry's giants: OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, and Meta, helmed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Why Steinberger Chose OpenAI Over Meta's More Lucrative Proposal
During a candid appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, Steinberger disclosed that following recent meetings with "the major labs" in San Francisco, he found himself weighing two serious offers. Despite Meta's proposal being reportedly more financially rewarding, Steinberger's choice was driven by deeper convictions rather than monetary gain.
Steinberger articulated three pivotal factors that shaped his decision:
- Commitment to Codex: As a self-described "biggest Codex advertisement show that's unpaid," Steinberger is a staunch believer in OpenAI's Codex technology. Joining OpenAI allows him to double down on this bet, aligning with his technical preferences.
- Open-Source Assurance: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman guaranteed that OpenClaw would "live in a foundation as an open source project," with ongoing support from the company. This commitment to maintaining open-source integrity was a key differentiator, as Meta's offer lacked such explicit assurances.
- Mission Alignment: Steinberger's core goal is to "build an agent that even my mum can use." OpenAI's extensive reach through ChatGPT provides a scalable pathway to achieve this vision, making it a more suitable home for OpenClaw's mission of developing accessible AI agents.
Financial Considerations Take a Backseat to Vision and Craft
Steinberger emphasized that financial incentives played no role in his decision-making process. On the podcast, he stated bluntly, "I don't do this for the money. I don't give a f**k." This sentiment is rooted in his personal history and values; having previously exited PSPDFKit for over $100 million, taken a three-year hiatus from the industry, and worked on 43 side projects, Steinberger is motivated by the craft of building rather than monetary outcomes.
In a blog post reflecting on his choice, he wrote, "The more I talked with the people there, the clearer it became that we both share the same vision." This alignment with OpenAI's product vision and overarching goals proved more compelling than any financial package.
OpenAI's Strategic Integration of OpenClaw into Its Product Roadmap
OpenClaw is an autonomous system that empowers users to create agents capable of controlling desktop and personal applications. Its integration into OpenAI's broader product strategy is expected to be swift and impactful. Altman has indicated that OpenClaw will "quickly become core to our product offerings," signaling a defined product direction rather than an exploratory endeavor.
This move underscores OpenAI's commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities and expanding its ecosystem. By incorporating OpenClaw, OpenAI aims to strengthen its position in the competitive AI landscape, leveraging Steinberger's expertise to drive innovation in accessible AI agents.
Insights from Steinberger's Interactions with Industry Leaders
Steinberger's first call with Mark Zuckerberg evolved into a 10-minute debate comparing Claude Code versus Codex, during which Zuckerberg reportedly described him as "eccentric, but brilliant." While Meta presented formidable technical advantages, including hints at Cerebras-level inference speeds under non-disclosure agreements, these factors were not decisive for Steinberger.
His decision highlights a growing trend in the tech industry where vision, mission alignment, and open-source principles can outweigh financial incentives, even when dealing with top-tier companies like Meta and OpenAI.
As OpenAI continues to support OpenClaw as an open-source project within a foundation, this collaboration promises to accelerate the development of user-friendly AI agents, potentially transforming how individuals interact with technology on a global scale.
