Will OpenAI Tank OpenClaw? | E2251

Will OpenAI Tank OpenClaw? | E2251

Author: Jason Calacanis February 17, 2026 Duration: 1:26:33

Will OpenAI Tank OpenClaw? | E2251

This Week In Startups is made possible by:

Northwest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist

Lemon IO - https://lemon.io/twist

LinkedIn Jobs - http://linkedin.com/HiringProOffer


Today’s show:

*OpenAI hired OpenClaw creater Peter Steinberger. What does this mean for the future of the AI virtual assistant platform, and what can the OpenClaw community do TODAY to help protect their favorite free, open-source resource?

Jason and Alex consider the future of OpenClaw alongside guest experts and founders Hiten Shah and Jesse Genet. Plus we’re taking a look at all of their OpenClaw creations. Check out demos of Hiten’s “personal CRM” for busy investors and Jesse’s family media aggregator.

PLUS we’ve got “AI Scott Adams” creator John Arrow to talk about why he was inspired to create an AI clone of the iconic podcaster and “Dilbert” creator, and why he thinks it has so many internet commenters up in arms.

Hiten Shahhttps://x.com/hnshahhttps://crazyegg.com

Jesse Genethttps://x.com/jessegenethttps://Lumi.com

John Arrowhttps://x.com/johnarrowhttps://www.aiscottadams.com/


Timestamps:

(0:00) Introducing our guests Hiten Shah and Jesse Genet!
(2:27) The panel’s biggest concerns about OpenAI hiring OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger
(6:03) Jason gives us his most optimistic and pessimistic OpenAI takes
(7:58) Why Jason thinks OpenAI will give everyone their own closed-source assistant
(10:45) Jesse’s Mac Minis now outnumber her children!
(15:28) What the OpenClaw community can do right now
(17:08)  Can companies “hijack” OpenClaw via hosting and skills?
(20:12)  Hiten live-trains an OpenClaw skill based on Jason’s book “Angel”
(22:37)  How much is everyone spending on tokens anyway?
(25:56)  How Jesse vibe-coded an app to aggregate non-Slop videos for her family
(34:19)  Why Jason thinks Jesse’s app is a great potential business
(37:27)  Hiten built the “personal CRM” busy people have always dreamed of having
(44:12)  “We’re in an appless world.”
(45:19) Why markdown files (.md) are perfect for humans and their AI agents
(52:36)  So why are founders so obsessed with OpenClaw?
(58:47)  John Arrow, the creator of AI Scott Adams, joins the show
(1:02:44) How does AI Scott Adams get more like Scott Adams over time?
(1:04:37)  The legal and ethical considerations around posthumous AI Clones


Every week, Jason Calacanis dives headfirst into the swirling vortex of Silicon Valley and global tech with This Week in Startups. It’s a direct line to the conversations shaping our digital future, moving far beyond surface-level news. You’ll hear Jason’s unfiltered analysis on everything from market shifts and media trends to the underlying mechanics of building a business, all delivered with a blend of enthusiasm and seasoned skepticism. The core of this podcast, however, lies in the guests. Jason sits down with the very people driving change-founders who have scaled impossible heights, operators managing daily chaos, and investors who spot trends before they become obvious. These conversations are less like formal interviews and more like insider debriefs, pulling back the curtain on real strategies, painful failures, and unexpected successes. For anyone curious about how technology is built, funded, and ultimately changes the world, this series offers a front-row seat. It’s the context behind the headlines, providing a deeper understanding of the forces at play in startups and technology. Tune in for a consistently engaging and insightful look at the ecosystem, straight from someone who lives and breathes it.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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