OpenClaw in China: A Boom in Paid Uninstallation Services
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A Booming Uninstallation Market
In China, the growing popularity of the AI agent OpenClaw has given rise to an unexpected market: paid services for its uninstallation. Faced with security concerns, stressed users are turning to providers to remove this tool from their systems.
On resale platforms like Xianyu, owned by Alibaba, listings offering these services are flourishing. The rates for uninstalling OpenClaw start at 299 Chinese yuan, approximately 44 dollars, and can reach 87 dollars. Some offers include the removal of residual files and viruses, while others provide home interventions for a higher cost.
Restrictions and Enthusiasm
This rush for uninstallation coincides with government restrictions. Chinese authorities have warned employees of government agencies and large companies, including banks, not to install OpenClaw on their work devices. Those who have already done so must inform their superiors.
The tool gained popularity last month, but interest has exploded recently with the virality of the phrase "lifting the lobster" on social media. This term describes the use of OpenClaw to automate tasks, quickly becoming a symbol of experimentation with this technology.
Support and Incentives
Last week, at Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen, nearly a thousand people lined up to receive free help from engineers to install OpenClaw. Local governments are also encouraging this trend, offering incentives such as free housing, rent-free offices, and grants of up to 720,000 dollars to attract startups and developers working on OpenClaw.
Security Risks
Concerns about the security of OpenClaw have prompted some users to uninstall it quickly. In February, China's National Vulnerability Database, under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, warned about the potential risks of this open-source AI agent. Incorrect configurations could expose systems to cyberattacks and data breaches.
The OpenClaw Service Economy
On RedNote, users are commenting on the profits generated by this trend. One user joked: "Charging lobsters costs 599, unloading them costs 299." Others mention the "growing OpenClaw service economy," with some referring to it as a "three-piece lobster combo": paying to install, configure, and then uninstall OpenClaw.
One user reported that some installers have earned up to 36,000 dollars in just a few days by helping to configure the software.
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