Anthropic Cuts OpenClaw: Claude Under Pressure

Anthropic Ends Support for OpenClaw for Claude

Anthropic recently announced that it would no longer support OpenClaw for its Claude subscriptions, a decision that has surprised many users. OpenClaw, a popular AI agent platform, allowed Claude subscribers to deploy AI agents. However, according to Anthropic, this usage has led to "excessive pressure" on its systems.

Boris Cherny, head of Claude Code, communicated this decision on X, specifying that starting Saturday at 12 PM PT, Claude subscriptions would no longer permit the use of third-party tools like OpenClaw. Users will now have to opt for "additional usage bundles" at a discounted rate or use a separate Claude API key via Anthropic's development platform.

Growing Demand for Claude

The popularity of Claude has skyrocketed, even reaching the top spot on the Apple App Store in the United States in March. This surge in popularity has prompted Anthropic to adjust usage limits for its subscribers. Cherny explained that the current subscriptions were not designed to support third-party tool usage models, and that capacity is a valuable resource that the company must manage carefully.

A spokesperson for Anthropic also emphasized that using Claude subscriptions with third-party tools violates the company's terms of service, contributing to the pressure on their systems.

Reactions and Consequences for OpenClaw

Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, expressed his disappointment on X, stating that he had tried to convince Anthropic to reconsider its decision. He mentioned that many users had subscribed to Claude specifically for OpenClaw, and that the cutoff would be a significant loss for them.

Steinberger also revealed that they had managed to delay Anthropic's decision by a week. He added that Anthropic seemed to want to bury the news by announcing it on a Friday evening.

OpenClaw is known for its ability to connect AI agents to platforms like Claude, allowing users to manage a variety of tasks. This popularity has sparked a craze for AI agents, with some users even automating their entire daily workflow using these tools.

A Broader Movement in the Industry

Anthropic is not the only company to restrict the use of third-party tools. Google has recently taken similar measures against users of Gemini CLI. Although the reasons differ, these decisions highlight a growing trend among companies to protect their systems and enforce their terms of service.