China's Shenzhen Backs OpenClaw AI with Subsidies Despite Beijing's Security Concerns Shenzhen's Longgang district has announced measures to build an industry around OpenClaw, a rapidly growing AI agent in China, highlighting its widespread adoption despite regulatory warnings about security risks tied to the tool's access to personal data. OpenClaw, an open-source AI assistant developed by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger, extends beyond standard chatbots by enabling tasks such as booking flights and organizing emails, allowing individuals with proper permissions to operate as "one-person companies." A free OpenClaw setup session hosted by Chinese tech giant Tencent in Shenzhen attracted a large audience, including children and retirees. The AI tool can be integrated with models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Chinese developers like Kimi and MiniMax. Longgang, which established China's first AI and robotics bureau last year, released draft measures on Saturday to foster an OpenClaw-focused AI ecosystem and support "one-person companies." These plans align with a recent central government report endorsing industries such as embodied intelligence and humanoid robots. High-tech industries, a strategic priority for Beijing amid competition with the United States, were emphasized at the ongoing National People's Congress. However, regulators and state media have raised security concerns about OpenClaw over the past month, reflecting Beijing's longstanding worries about cyber risks and data breaches. China has strengthened data-privacy and export-control regulations since 2021. Longgang's draft measures, open for public comment until April 6, are part of an "AI plus" action plan to integrate the technology across the economy, in line with national goals through 2030.#openclaw #peter_steinberger #tencent #shenzhen #longgang_district
