Articles & Snippets

What is OpenClaw AI and How to Use It?

Posted by negraru on Sun, 15 Feb 2026

OpenClaw AI is a tool for automating tasks with artificial intelligence. It gives you a platform to build, run, and manage AI workflows. You can use it to process data, make predictions, and automate routine work. It is aimed at developers, system administrators, and data teams.

What OpenClaw AI Does?

Connects to APIs and databases
Runs AI models on demand
Automates data processing
Schedules tasks to run at set times
Logs output for review

You can link it to third party services and trigger actions based on conditions. It can handle text analysis, classification, translation, and generation tasks.

Why You Might Need It

Save manual time
Run tasks without human input
Manage large data sets with ease
Standardize processes across teams
Create repeatable AI driven jobs

Requirements

A Linux based server or workstation
Root or sudo access
Internet connection
Basic command line skills
Docker installed and running

Docker is required because OpenClaw AI uses containers to run services in isolation. You must also have enough memory and CPU for your tasks.

Installation Steps

You install OpenClaw AI via a script. The script downloads required files and configures the system.


curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Step by Step Guide

Log in to your server using SSH
Ensure you are root or have sudo privileges
Update your package list
Install Docker and start the service
Run the install script above

After Installation

After the script completes, OpenClaw AI will start core services. You will get an address you can open in a browser. You log in and set up your workspace.

Create projects
Connect data sources
Define tasks and triggers
Monitor job status

Basic Usage

Once installed, you use the web UI to configure tasks. You can also use the command line tools it provides. You can check status and logs with simple commands.


docker ps
docker logs openclaw

Troubleshooting

If Docker is not running, start it first
Check system memory if tasks fail
Review logs to find errors
Search community forums for help

Security Notes

Do not expose your server to the public network without firewall
Use strong passwords
Keep the system updated

Summary

OpenClaw AI lets you automate AI tasks with a clear interface and command tools. You need Docker and basic Linux skills to install it. The install script makes setup simple. After install you can build workflows, monitor jobs, and run AI driven work.

OpenClaw AI