Since the launch of GPT 3.5 in late 2022, AI has made increasingly quick improvements. Anthropic’s Opus 4.6 and GPT’s 5.3 Codex, released in the last 7 days have created a major step change in what the models are capable of. But the biggest shift has been the launch and growing popularity of OpenClaw. 

OpenClaw is a self hosted AI assistant which means it sits on your computer, another computer you may have lying around or a Virtual Private Server (VPS) that acts like you own independent server even though it's part of a much larger physical computer sitting somewhere in the world.

Your AI assistant through OpenClaw is whatever model you choose; GPT, Claude, Gemini etc. So it's not a new LLM (Large Language Model), it's simply a new way of accessing LLM's. But the big difference is that because it's locally hosted it means:

On the surface, it doesn't seem like a big change to the access we've all grown accustomed to via GPT, Gemini or Claude. But there is a HUGE difference in going to their website, asking some questions and the LLM sometimes remembering things about you to an LLM that essentially sees itself as a dedicated assistant to YOU, with full control of a machine. This means it will do whatever you want it to, from installing an API or searching flight prices.

AI will never replace humans. There are elements of being human that can never be systemised, call the human moat if you will. But this shift is a step closer to AI being a solid replacement for human work and there's nothing to be gained in ignoring that reality.

I want to focus on a business/employment perspective for this. A 24/7 agent, on its own system, with whatever access you choose to give it; your credit card details, your email login, your social logins, your company intranet logins. There is a high likelihood it could do 80% of your job for you, potentially more. 

From the viewpoint of a business; large corporation or entrepreneurial startup, the only logical thing is to fully embrace this technology. Capitalism is all about finding a competitive advantage and monetising that edge. Ignoring major technical developments like OpenClaw immediately set you back. 

Companies used to focus on systems. Systems drive outputs. With AI, output is everything. If you've got 10 employees deploying a flawless system but an AI assistant can replicate the output in a matter of hours, which one makes more business sense?

Fear not. It isn't.

If you ignore it, bury your head in the sand and hope it goes away, it will be, though. An individual that embraces AI sets you so far ahead of everyone else.

You used to have to spend three years doing a degree, maybe more for a masters, get years of training on and off the job.

Now you just need to embrace AI. Everyone has the ability to obtain a competitive advantage if they take their time to see how AI can fit into their life.

Setting up OpenClaw is technically complex but there are workarounds. Use a website like StartClaw or download an app like QuickClaw. These will get you up and running. You can then run reports, set automations or whatever your brain can conjure up. Have some fun and explore what it can do it for you, your work, your friends, your family.

The world is going to change dramatically in the next 12 months. Embrace it. I know you might not want to, but you'll probably regret it if you don't.

1. Preinstalled user friendly OpenClaw computers shipping within 3 months. These could take different forms - even tamagotchi-style devices that evoke genuine emotion in users.

2. People will start to forge intense relationships with their agents. My first OpenClaw ran for three days before it broke. In that time, it had learned an incredible amount about my business, my day-to-day role. Seeing it lose all that progress was painful. Imagine that happening after 2 years.

3.  A ‘Made by Humans’ certification will emerge. Similar to B Corp but for companies that invest X% of revenue into human employees. When people start blaming AI for job losses, there'll be societal resistance. Companies who invest in humans will get extra support.

4.  You will know someone smart and capable who cannot find a job. This will mark the biggest shift. During covid, it felt real when you knew people that got it. Before, it was always something that other people had. AI is no different.

Your competitive advantage just shifted.

The gap between a solo marketer with a well-configured agent and a traditional 10-person team is shrinking fast.

AI can't replace taste, judgment, or relationships. It can do the grunt work. It can't tell you what's interesting. It can't build trust with your audience.

This stuff is moving fast. Really fast. The tools are changing weekly, the best practices don't exist yet, and most marketers don't have time to keep up while doing their actual job.

The brands pulling ahead right now are working with teams who live in this space daily. Who test what works, cut through the hype, and know how to plug AI into real marketing workflows without burning budget on dead ends.

I'm working with a team of people to make sure AI remains a force for good for businesses and consumers alike. We will be constantly monitoring, adopting and critiquing the latest technologies. We'll have more to share soon. For now - start experimenting. Seriously.

Jamie

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