Baidu will soon let users of its main smartphone app interact directly with the popular AI tool OpenClaw, a company spokesperson said

Starting Friday, users who opt in can message the AI through Baidu’s search app to handle tasks like scheduling, organizing files, and writing code.

AI agents like OpenClaw have recently gained traction for automating tasks such as managing email and navigating online services.

Previously, the Austrian-developed open-source AI agent was accessible only via chat apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Chinese companies—including Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu—have since made OpenClaw available on their cloud platforms.
Baidu reports 700 million monthly active users on its search app and is extending OpenClaw’s features to its e-commerce and other services.

The rollout comes just ahead of China’s Lunar New Year, as tech giants vie to attract users and monetize their AI tools.

Alibaba has recently integrated its e-commerce platforms, including Taobao and travel site Fliggy, with its AI chatbot Qwen, reporting over 120 million consumer orders in the six days leading up to February 11.

while Qwen allows users to compare personalized product recommendations and complete payments through Alipay—entirely within the chatbot.

Previously, while the AI could suggest products, shoppers had to leave the app and navigate multiple platforms to finish their purchases.

Despite the rising popularity of AI agents like OpenClaw, cybersecurity firms such as CrowdStrike have cautioned against giving the tool unrestricted access to enterprise systems.