OpenClaw: Why the Internet Isn't Built for AI Agents
From AI + a16z by a16z
March 19, 2026 · 47 min · Episode 90
About this episode
The episode discusses OpenClaw, an open source personal AI assistant, and its implications for identity, permissions, and security on the internet.
Yoko Li, Guido Appenzeller, and Joel de la Garza discuss OpenClaw, the open source personal AI assistant that's forcing a rethink of how identity, permissions, and security work on the internet. They cover why setting up Gmail integration took seven hours, what happens when an agent asks for domain-wide access to every email in your company, and why consumer websites like DoorDash and Amazon have no incentive to make their services agent-friendly.
People in this episode
Guests: Yoko Li, Guido Appenzeller, Joel de la Garza
Topics covered
- AI agents
- identity
- permissions
- security
- open source
- internet
Keywords
- OpenClaw
- AI assistant
- identity
- permissions
- security
- Gmail integration
- agent-friendly
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: OpenClaw, Gmail, DoorDash, Amazon
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