Clawdbot Officially Renamed to Moltbot
On January 27, 2026, Peter Steinberger, the creator of the open-source AI assistant Clawdbot, announced a major change on social media: Clawdbot would officially be renamed to Moltbot, and its AI assistant persona Clawd would become Molty.
This renaming was not voluntary. It came at the request of Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, citing trademark protection concerns. Steinberger was direct about the situation: "I was forced to rename the account by Anthropic. Wasn't my decision."
Why Did Anthropic Request the Clawdbot Name Change?
Trademark Similarity Issues
Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI models, owns multiple trademarks related to "Claude." The Clawdbot name and mascot presented clear similarities to Anthropic's intellectual property:
- Name similarity: Clawdbot/Clawd sounds phonetically similar to Claude
- Mascot conflict: Clawd is the official logo of Claude Code, created in June 2024 and trademarked by Anthropic
- Brand confusion risk: Users might mistakenly believe Clawdbot is an official Anthropic product
Anthropic's Specific Requirements
Anthropic didn't just request a name change—they also explicitly prohibited certain compromise solutions. Steinberger revealed that he considered simply removing the letter "d" to rename the project "Clawbot," but Anthropic made clear this was "not allowed."
This meant the Clawdbot team had to undergo a complete brand overhaul rather than a simple name tweak.
The Meaning Behind the Moltbot Name
The Lobster Molting Metaphor
The new name "Moltbot" derives from the biological term "molt," which refers to the process of lobsters shedding their shells to grow. Molting is a natural evolution in a lobster's life cycle, essential for their growth and development.
The Clawdbot team cleverly transformed this forced renaming into a positive brand narrative: "It's what lobsters do to grow." This explanation preserves the project's original crustacean theme while giving the rebrand a positive symbolic meaning.
Brand Continuity
Despite the name change, the Moltbot team emphasizes that the project's core mission remains unchanged:
- "Same lobster soul, new shell"
- "Same mission: AI that actually does things"
This messaging acknowledges the rebrand while reassuring users that the product's essence hasn't changed.
What is Moltbot? Core Features Overview
For readers unfamiliar with this project, Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot) is a free, open-source personal AI assistant with the following characteristics:
Local-First Privacy
Moltbot runs entirely on the user's device, supporting Mac, Windows, and Linux. Unlike cloud-based AI assistants, user data never leaves the local device unless explicitly shared.
Multi-Platform Chat Integration
Moltbot integrates with the chat applications users already use daily:
- Telegram
- Discord
- Slack
- Signal
- iMessage
Real Task Execution Capabilities
Moltbot is more than just a chatbot. It can:
- Book dinner reservations
- Manage calendars and tasks
- Browse websites and fill out forms
- Execute system commands
- Oversee vibe-coding sessions
Flexible AI Model Support
Ironically, many Moltbot users choose to use Claude as the underlying AI model. This means that while the project was forced to rebrand due to trademark issues, it remains closely connected to Anthropic's technology.
Impact of the Renaming on Users
What Needs to Be Updated
This rebrand requires users and developers to update several things:
- GitHub repository URLs: Migration from clawdbot to moltbot
- Installation commands: npm package name changes
- Configuration files: Local installations need updates
- Social media follows: New handle @moltbot
Community Reaction
The Moltbot community has had mixed reactions to the renaming. Most users express understanding, viewing it as an inevitable result of trademark law. However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with Anthropic's approach, arguing that open-source projects shouldn't face such strict restrictions.
Trademark Disputes: A Growing Trend in AI
The Clawdbot to Moltbot rebrand isn't the first trademark dispute in the AI industry:
- OpenAI and Jony Ive collaboration: Previously sparked naming discussions
- Sora app dispute: Cameo filed a lawsuit over the virtual likeness tool's name
As the AI industry rapidly evolves, brand and trademark protection will become increasingly important issues.
Unexpected Cryptocurrency Complications
The renaming also triggered an unexpected problem: there exists an unrelated "Clawd" meme coin in the cryptocurrency space.
Crypto traders began frequently contacting Steinberger, forcing him to publicly state: "Please stop pinging and harassing me. You are actively damaging the project." His personal GitHub account was even briefly compromised by crypto scammers, though Moltbot's official account remained unaffected.
How to Migrate to Moltbot
If you're an existing Clawdbot user, here are the migration steps:
1. Update Installation
# Uninstall old version
npm uninstall -g clawdbot
# Install new version
npm i -g moltbot
moltbot onboard --install-daemon2. Update Configuration
Check and update any "clawdbot" or "clawd" references in your configuration files.
3. Follow New Channels
- New Twitter/X: @moltbot
- New GitHub: github.com/moltbot
Conclusion
The Clawdbot to Moltbot rebrand is a typical case of trademark protection in the AI industry. While this renaming was forced, the Moltbot team has approached it positively, comparing it to a lobster's natural molting process for growth.
For users, aside from the name change, Moltbot's core functionality and mission remain unchanged. It's still the same free, open-source, privacy-focused personal AI assistant—just with a new "shell."
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