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The rapidly growing open source AI assistant previously known as Clawdbot has undergone a significant rebranding, now operating under the name Moltbot. This change comes in response to trademark concerns raised by Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company responsible for developing the Claude AI platform. The shift, which occurred on January 27, 2026, marks a notable moment in the evolving landscape of personal AI applications and intellectual property considerations.
The Name Change Explained
Developer Peter Steinberger, an Austrian entrepreneur who previously founded PSPDFKit, announced the mandatory name change across social media platforms. Despite external pressure forcing this decision, Steinberger has embraced the new identity positively. The name Moltbot draws inspiration from the application’s lobster themed logo and references the natural biological process where crustaceans shed their shells to facilitate growth – a metaphor resonating with the project’s mission to evolve and expand capabilities.
What Makes Moltbot Different
Moltbot distinguishes itself from mainstream AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude by offering users a uniquely personal AI experience. The software operates locally on individual computers while maintaining connectivity to various messaging services including WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and iMessage. This architecture provides users with greater control over their data and interactions, including persistent memory across conversations, full system access to shell commands, browser control, and file management capabilities.
Scammers Exploit the Transition
The rebranding process exposed the project to unforeseen challenges. During the transition, Steinberger attempted to change both the GitHub organization and X/Twitter handle simultaneously. Within approximately ten seconds between releasing the old names and securing new ones, malicious actors seized both accounts to launch cryptocurrency scams. These fraudsters promoted fake CLAWD tokens attempting to capitalize on the tool’s growing reputation. Steinberger has firmly stated his complete disassociation from any cryptocurrency initiatives.
Market Impact and Security Considerations
Launched in late 2025, the application achieved remarkable growth, reaching 9,000 GitHub stars within 24 hours and surpassing 60,000 stars shortly thereafter. Its popularity has driven increased demand for Mac Mini computers as a preferred hosting platform, though the software maintains compatibility with Windows, Linux systems, and cloud based virtual machines. Security researchers have identified vulnerabilities in certain deployment configurations, warning that unauthenticated instances may expose API keys and conversation histories. Despite these security concerns, Moltbot continues gaining traction among technology enthusiasts seeking personalized, locally controlled AI assistance.
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