Peter Steinberger, the developer behind the viral open-source AI agent framework OpenClaw, is advising aspiring AI creators to adopt a more playful mindset and give themselves time to iterate, drawing from his own rapid journey from side project to OpenAI recruit.
In the debut episode of OpenAI’s “Builders Unscripted” video series, released February 25, 2026, Steinberger shared insights on his creation process, emphasizing exploration over expertise: “My first advice always is, approach it in a playful way. Build something that you always wanted to build.” He added, “Don’t expect to be an expert at what you do right away,” encouraging patience as skills develop through hands-on experimentation.
Steinberger’s journey with OpenClaw began as a playful side project in November 2025, evolving into a viral tool by January 2026 that enables users to build autonomous AI agents for tasks like email management or web scraping. Its open-source nature fueled community contributions, leading to millions of users and Steinberger’s hiring by OpenAI in February 2026, where he now works on similar agent technologies. He credits playful iteration for its success, noting a “gut feeling” for what works developed over time.
Also Read: Meta Employees Embrace ‘AI Builders’ Moniker Amid Company-Wide AI Push
Steinberger also discussed using tools like Codex in his workflow and the power of open source, encouraging builders to share early, imperfect versions to foster improvement.
This advice comes amid a boom in agentic AI, where frameworks like OpenClaw democratize building autonomous agents, but Steinberger’s emphasis on playfulness counters the high-pressure environment of rapid AI development.
In a field driven by hype and deadlines, Steinberger’s call for playful experimentation and patience could foster more sustainable innovation, reminding builders that mastery in AI, like any craft, takes time and curiosity.
