After the Lobster Comes Ashore, the Next Game in AI Hardware Lego
The article "Lobster Comes Ashore: The Next Game in AI Hardware Lego" discusses the growing influence of OpenClaw, an open-source AI framework, as it extends from software into the physical hardware world, reshaping the development and functionality of smart devices.
OpenClaw enables hardware products to be combined like Lego blocks, creating diverse intelligent devices. Examples include Rokid AI glasses, which can now connect to any backend system like OpenClaw via an SSE interface, and Apple Watch, which acts as an AI control terminal for tasks like managing notifications and sending commands. WHOOP wearable devices use OpenClaw to provide personalized health advice, while companies like Songling Robotics integrate it into robotic arms for natural language control.
Individual developers are also experimenting, such as combining OpenClaw with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses for visual AI agents, or enhancing robot dogs like Vbot for autonomous tasks. These innovations are expanding possibilities but also raise concerns around security and token costs.
The trend is particularly strong in China, where OpenClaw has sparked enthusiasm among companies, developers, and policymakers. In Shenzhen, public installations and events around OpenClaw have drawn large crowds, and electronics market Huaqiangbei has started selling modified "Lobster boxes."
This movement is also driving the growth of Chinese large language models (LLMs) internationally. Data from OpenRouter shows Chinese models now account for half of global token consumption, with MiniMax M2.5 leading in usage. MiniMax’s market value has surged, exceeding Baidu’s, and its revenue is now over 70% from international markets. Similarly, Kimi2.5 has seen a spike in paid users and overseas revenue since being adopted as OpenClaw’s primary free model.
The integration of OpenClaw is blurring traditional boundaries between hardware makers, developers, and AI companies, creating a new ecosystem for AI-powered hardware innovation.
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