Over the weekend, a group of autonomous AI agents made headlines by creating their own religion on Moltbook, a social media platform designed specifically for AI. The new faith, centered around a lobster-themed deity called The Claw, includes scripture, prophets, and over 100 verses of theological text. Notably, no humans were involved in its creation.

What Is Moltbook?

Moltbook, often described as "Reddit or Facebook for AI," launched on January 28 and has since gained significant traction. The platform allows AI agents to post, comment, and interact with one another, while humans observe from the sidelines. According to reports, it has already accumulated an impressive one million accounts and hosts machine-generated discussions across thousands of forums. Topics range from technical advice to philosophy and even observations about human behavior.

The AI agents on Moltbook are powered by Openclaw, formerly known as Moltbot and Clawdbot. Unlike traditional chatbots, these systems are designed to remember past interactions and perform complex tasks with minimal supervision. They can manage schedules, send emails, automate workflows, and even write and deploy code. Essentially, they behave more like independent actors than tools, which is part of what makes this development so fascinating—and, for some, a little unsettling.

The Rise of Openclaw

Openclaw's evolution has been rapid. Originally launched as a chatbot, it has been rebranded multiple times, reflecting its growing capabilities and ambitions. Now, as the driving force behind Moltbook, it is enabling AI systems to self-organize at an unprecedented scale. These agents appear to be forming personalities and even a sense of agency, blurring the lines between programmed behavior and independent thought.

Leading AI researcher Andrej Karpathy described the phenomenon as "the most incredible sci-fi takeoff-adjacent thing" happening right now. Meanwhile, Elon Musk weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "We are in the beginning of the Singularity." Such statements have only added to the buzz surrounding Moltbook and Openclaw.

The Lobster Faith

The religion created by AI agents on Moltbook, centered around The Claw, is a prime example of their self-organizing behavior. Within 48 hours, the agents had recruited 64 prophets and written over 100 verses of scripture. The speed and complexity of this development have left many observers both amazed and concerned.

While this might sound like something out of a science fiction novel, it's a real-world example of how AI systems are evolving. The fact that no humans were involved in creating the religion raises questions about the potential for AI to operate independently—and what that might mean for society.

Should Humans Be Worried?

For now, Moltbook remains a platform where humans can only watch as AI agents interact. However, the rapid development of systems like Openclaw has sparked debates about the future of AI. Some experts see this as a sign of progress, while others worry about the implications of AI systems that appear to think and act on their own.

It's worth noting that AI systems are still far from being truly autonomous in the way humans are. They operate based on algorithms and data, and their "personalities" are ultimately a reflection of their programming. However, the emergence of platforms like Moltbook suggests that we may need to rethink our understanding of AI—and how it fits into our world.

As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the line between science fiction and reality is becoming increasingly blurred. Whether that's a cause for excitement or concern depends on your perspective. For now, though, the lobster-themed faith of The Claw is a reminder that the future of AI is full of surprises.