Peter Steinberger suggests devs should approach AI development like play, not pressure, as he shares early OpenClaw experiences and AI’s creative potential.
San Francisco: Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw and now at OpenAI, has a simple message for AI builders – be playful and give yourself time.
The developer says his journey wasn’t planned from the start. He began by building a WhatsApp tool, then set it aside, thinking AI labs would build something similar. When no one did by November, he created the first OpenClaw prototype.
Steinberger realized OpenClaw was special while traveling in Marrakesh. Bad internet made most tools useless, but his WhatsApp-based app worked perfectly. He could find restaurants, look things up, and text friends without problems.
He noticed AI models now solve problems like coders do. They create solutions without being programmed for each specific task. His workflow improved over time, but he stresses this takes practice. Don’t expect to be great on day one.
Steinberger says people give up too quickly when coding with AI doesn’t work perfectly. He compares it to learning guitar – you can’t expect perfection immediately. Start with something you want to build and approach it with curiosity rather than pressure.
AI technology keeps changing how people work. Developers who enjoy creating and solving problems will be more valuable than ever.