Tencent joins OpenClaw sponsors list after creator raises copying concerns publicly

Tencent has officially become a sponsor of OpenClaw after its creator publicly raised concerns about companies copying the project without proper support, and the move comes at a time when the AI agent is gaining rapid popularity across China.

According to the South China Morning Post, Tencent and its cloud unit joined OpenClaw’s GitHub sponsors list alongside OpenAI and Baidu, marking a visible shift after criticism from creator Peter Steinberger, who said companies were using his work without giving back financially or technically.

Creator complaint pushes response

Steinberger earlier said Tencent copied skills from OpenClaw without contributing, which triggered a response from the company as it claimed its SkillHub platform acted as a “local mirror” that credited the original source, while also stating its engineers had contributed code and would “become a better sponsor.”

The exact scope of Tencent’s sponsorship remains unclear, but the timing shows the company wants to address concerns while staying involved in a fast-growing AI ecosystem.

OpenClaw has turned into a major trend in China, where users call running the agent “raising a lobster,” and companies now compete to simplify installation as Tencent recently offered free setup across multiple cities, drawing large crowds of users.

At the same time, the AI agent continues to expand beyond developers, with tools like Tencent’s WorkBuddy and QClaw aiming to handle workplace tasks and integrate with platforms like WeChat.

Growth comes with risks

OpenClaw stands out because it can perform real tasks like coding, managing files, and booking services, but it also requires deep system access, which raises clear privacy and security concerns.

Still, the rapid adoption shows how quickly AI agents move from niche tools to mainstream demand, pushing major tech companies to act fast and stay relevant.