MimiClaw: Pocket AI Assistant on a $5 Chip

OpenAI absorbs lobster project founder for AI hardware push. MimiClaw emerges as open source alternative running complex Agents on a $5 ESP32 chip.

OpenClaw has been acquired by OpenAI—in a way. I feel like OpenAI is still betting more on the future potential of “lobster” in hardware.

Strictly speaking, it’s the founder of the lobster project, Peter, who has been brought on board by OpenAI to lead the Personal Agents department, while the OpenClaw project itself has been transitioned into an open-source foundation.

After all, it’s no secret anymore that OpenAI wants to build AI hardware.

In a sense, deeply integrating powerful Agents with endpoint devices could be the next big trend in the AI industry.