Peter Steinberger – Biography, Timeline, and Internet Links

Peter Steinberger is an Austrian software engineer, entrepreneur, and creator of the open-source AI agent OpenClaw. Known online as @steipete, he has become one of the most talked-about individual developers in artificial intelligence after building a viral autonomous AI assistant capable of managing real-world tasks. Before OpenClaw, Steinberger was best known for founding the PDF software company PSPDFKit and later returning from retirement to explore agent-based AI systems. He is widely described as a product-focused builder who prefers shipping experimental software quickly rather than building large corporate startups.

Early Life and Technical Background

Peter Steinberger is an Austrian iOS developer who studied technology in Vienna and became deeply involved in Apple development early in his career. He gained recognition for building developer tools and contributing to mobile software ecosystems long before the rise of AI agents. His technical approach has always emphasized practical engineering, rapid experimentation, and independent development rather than traditional venture-capital startup models. Many of his early projects focused on developer productivity and document rendering technology, which later shaped his philosophy about building tools that “do real work” instead of just demonstrating theory.

PSPDFKit – The First Major Success

In the early 2010s, Steinberger founded PSPDFKit, a document-processing framework used by enterprise companies and widely embedded inside apps and web platforms. The company grew from a solo project into a globally distributed software business with dozens of employees and millions of users worldwide. After more than a decade of bootstrapped growth, the company was sold in a deal reportedly exceeding €100 million. Following the exit, Steinberger stepped away from daily development and entered a period of travel, reflection, and experimentation before eventually returning to programming and artificial intelligence.

The Return to Coding and the Birth of OpenClaw

After several years away from the spotlight, Steinberger returned to development around 2024–2025 with a renewed focus on AI agents. His experiments evolved into a prototype called Clawdbot, later renamed Moltbot, and eventually released publicly as OpenClaw. The project quickly gained attention because it allowed AI models to control tools, send messages, automate workflows, and operate across platforms rather than just generate text. OpenClaw became one of the fastest-growing open-source AI agent projects, gaining significant traction on GitHub and across developer communities.

Unlike many AI startups, Steinberger chose to keep OpenClaw open source and emphasized experimentation over commercialization. The project demonstrated a new vision for “agentic AI,” where multiple intelligent systems collaborate and perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users.

Joining OpenAI and the Multi-Agent Future

In early 2026, Steinberger joined OpenAI to help build next-generation personal AI agents. His decision surprised some observers because OpenClaw had the potential to become a large independent company, but he stated that his goal was to create global impact rather than run another traditional startup. OpenClaw continues to exist as an open-source foundation supported by the broader AI ecosystem.

Timeline of Key Events

• 2011–2021: Founded and scaled PSPDFKit, a widely used PDF software platform.
• 2021: PSPDFKit majority sale; Steinberger steps away from active development.
• 2021–2024: Period of travel, experimentation, and reflection after exit.
• Late 2025: Launches Clawdbot prototype — early version of OpenClaw.
• 2026: OpenClaw becomes a viral open-source AI agent project.
• 2026: Joins OpenAI to advance multi-agent AI systems and personal assistants.

Projects and Interesting Contributions

• PSPDFKit: Enterprise PDF framework used inside major applications.
• OpenClaw: Open-source AI agent platform focused on automation and personal assistants.
• MoltBook: Experimental social network where AI agents interact with each other.
• Developer Tools: Numerous open-source utilities released through GitHub.

Personal Philosophy and Approach

Steinberger often describes himself as a “builder” who prioritizes experimentation and speed. He advocates for local-first AI systems, autonomous agents, and decentralized development communities. Instead of focusing on creating a massive company, he has stated that his mission is to change how people interact with software by giving AI real agency in everyday workflows.

Internet Links and Official Accounts

• Personal Website: https://steipete.me
• GitHub: https://github.com/steipete
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/steipete
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/steipete
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/steipete.me
• OpenClaw Project: https://openclaw.ai

Why Peter Steinberger Matters in Modern AI

Peter Steinberger represents a new type of AI founder — an independent developer who combines deep engineering experience with open-source experimentation. Rather than building massive proprietary platforms, he has focused on making AI more practical and autonomous, helping drive the industry toward agent-based systems capable of performing real tasks. His work on OpenClaw helped popularize the concept of AI agents that can manage email, scheduling, and workflows directly, influencing the broader shift toward multi-agent AI ecosystems.