An independent developer’s experimental AI assistant, called Moltbot, is quickly drawing attention for its ability to automate complex digital tasks directly from a user’s computer, Wired reported.
The tool was built by software developer Peter Steinberger, who wanted an AI assistant that stores all user data locally rather than in the cloud. He first launched the tool in November as Clawdbot and changed its name to Moltbot earlier this month after receiving a request from Anthropic, which also uses the name «Claude» for its AI models.
According to Steinberger, Moltbot offers little that is technically new, but stands out for its distinctive approach. The tool runs continuously on a user’s computer, connects to installed AI models and online services and can communicate through apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Unlike traditional voice assistants, Moltbot can handle multi-step tasks across applications, write code, browse the web and help manage personal workflows.
Moltbot can be customized in several ways, including assigning it a personality stored in a local file and enabling long-term memory of past conversations. However, it is not yet designed for non-technical users. Setting it up requires command-line skills, API keys and manual configuration.
Security also remains a concern. Because Moltbot can access personal files and accounts, it could be vulnerable to malicious messages. Nevertheless, some users are already experimenting with letting the assistant manage business tasks such as inventory tracking, customer communication and purchasing.
