Hermes Agent killed OpenClaw

Key Concepts

• OpenClaw: An AI agent framework that has reportedly declined in performance and reliability.
• Codex: OpenAI’s computer-use-capable AI model/platform.
• Super App: A comprehensive software ecosystem that integrates multiple functionalities into a single interface.
• Acqui-hiring: The strategic acquisition of a company (or its creator) primarily to secure talent rather than the product itself.

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The Decline of OpenClaw

The transcript posits that OpenClaw has suffered a significant degradation in quality following the hiring of its creator, Peter Steinberger, by OpenAI. Users report that the agent has become:

• Slower: Increased latency in processing tasks.
• Buggy: A higher frequency of technical errors and malfunctions.
• Unreliable: A decrease in consistent performance compared to previous iterations.

The speaker suggests that this decline is a direct consequence of the creator’s departure, leading users to migrate toward alternative frameworks such as Hermes agent and Agent Zero. The narrative frames this as a "cashing out" event for the creator, estimated at a value of several hundred million dollars, at the expense of the product's viability.

The Evolution of OpenAI’s Codex

In contrast to the stagnation of OpenClaw, OpenAI’s Codex is described as undergoing rapid improvement. The recent release of "computer use" capabilities—which allows the AI to interact with desktop interfaces and software applications directly—is highlighted as a major technical milestone.

• Strategic Vision: Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, has articulated a vision for Codex to evolve into a "super app."
• Technical Integration: The "computer use" functionality represents a shift toward agents that can perform complex, multi-step workflows across various software environments, effectively consolidating disparate tools into one unified platform.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The core argument presented is a trade-off between the loss of an independent tool (OpenClaw) and the consolidation of power within OpenAI’s ecosystem. While the open-source or independent community loses a functional agent, the resources and talent acquired by OpenAI are being funneled into the development of Codex. The transition marks a shift in the AI landscape where specialized, smaller agents are being superseded by large-scale, multi-functional "super apps" capable of autonomous computer interaction. The takeaway is that while individual niche tools may suffer or disappear due to corporate acquisition, the broader capability of centralized AI models like Codex is accelerating significantly.