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Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

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Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#641

I really don't understand what a claw is. Can someone ELI5?

It’s basically cron + LLMs + memory connected to their discord or WhatsApp to control remotely. A persistent personal agent that just does stuff for you. People have been running on their own machines letting the LLM access their shell, browser, whatever.

Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#643

My summary: openclaw is a 5/5 security risk, if you have a perfectly audited nanoclaw or whatever it is 4/5 still. If it runs with human-in-the-loop it is much better, but the value is quickly diminishing. I think llms are not bad at helping to spec down human language and possibly doing great also in creating guardrails via tests, but i’d prefer something stable over llms running in “creative mode” or “claw” mode.

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Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#644

It’s a slow burn, but if you keep using it, it seems to eventually catch fire as the agent builds up scripts and skills and together you build up systems of getting stuff done. In some ways it feels like building rapport with a junior. And like a junior, eventually, if you keep investing, the agent starts doing things that blow by your expectations. By giving the agent its own isolated computer, I don’t have to care…

Curious… why not just use a workflow engine like n8n? Seems most people are just creating workflows but without any deterministic execution.

Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#645
post #419

All: quite a few comments in this thread (and another one we merged hither - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47099160 ) have contained personal attacks. Hopefully most of them are [flagged] and/or [dead] now. On HN, please don't cross into personal attack no matter how strongly you feel about someone or disagree with them. It's destructive of what the site is for, and we moderate and/or ban accounts that do it.…

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Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#647
post #604

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The creator has an estimated net worth of $50 million to $200 million prior to Open AI hiring him. If you listen to any interviews with him, doesn't really seem like the type of person who's driven by money and I get the impression that no matter what OpenAI is paying him, his life will remain pretty much unchanged (from a financial perspective at least). He also still talks very fondly about Claude Code and openly a…

You're telling me that a person that's greedy enough to have a net worth of several tens of millions doesn't care about money? Pull the other one, it's got bells on.

Oh, the good old modest selfless millionaire fairytale to inspire modest selfless zeronaires! Never fails.

Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#648
post #464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think claws is a great name. They let the AI go grab things. They snap away and get stuff done. Claws are powerful and everything that has claws is cool. Some of this may be slightly satirical. (But I still think “claws” works better than “personal assistant” which anthropomorphises the technology too much.)

Claws are also potentially dangerous so it is a pretty apt analogy.

That’s also very apt yes.

Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#649

Security-wise, having a Claw doesn’t seem so different from having a traditional (human) assistant or working with a consultant. You wouldn’t give them access to your personal email or bank account. You’d set them up with their own email and a limited credit card.

>You wouldn’t give them access to your personal email or bank account.

I thought it was vaguely common for secretaries (or staffers) to run the email/social media accounts of politicians and executives? Also you might not give access your secretary access to your bank account, but you'd give it to your financial adviser or accountant.

Re: Claws are now a new layer on top of LLM agents

#650

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think claws is a great name. They let the AI go grab things. They snap away and get stuff done. Claws are powerful and everything that has claws is cool. Some of this may be slightly satirical. (But I still think “claws” works better than “personal assistant” which anthropomorphises the technology too much.)

You mean "grab things in the digital world?" Like virtual things?

Things in the digital world, your bank balance, your sanity, passers-by around the neck. You name it!
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