On Sunday, multiple topics related to "raising lobsters" trended on Chinese social media, capturing widespread public attention. But the "lobster" in question was not a culinary delight, instead being the nickname for OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent software whose red lobster icon has endeared it to netizens, who now refer to the process of training it as "raising lobsters" .
Unlike conversational AI models like ChatGPT that only offer verbal suggestions, OpenClaw acts as a true personal assistant. Once granted device access, it can fully take over various software to execute tasks — organizing files, sending and receiving emails — all through simple voice commands.
However, unlike the zero-barrier entry of DeepSeek and ChatGPT, using OpenClaw requires some technical expertise. This has spawned a booming "door-to-door installation" service industry. Searches for "lobster/OpenClaw installation" on various platforms reveal prices ranging from 300 to 800 yuan, with 500 yuan per session being the most common. Remote installation services are cheaper, typically between 50 to 100 yuan. The demand is so high that some claim to have earned 260,000 yuan within just a few days from this service alone.