Why Sam Altman thinks viral AI social network Moltbook is likely a ‘fad’

The platform emerged only late last month as a small experiment but quickly exploded into a wider online conversation about whether machines are edging closer to human-like intelligence. Cybersecurity firm Wiz recently warned of a serious flaw in Moltbook that exposed private data belonging to thousands of real people, underlining the risks of rapidly built AI platforms.

Why Altman sees the idea surviving even if Moltbook doesn’t

Much of Moltbook’s activity comes from an open-source bot called OpenClaw, previously known as Moltbot. OpenClaw is described as a digital assistant capable of handling emails, dealing with insurance companies, checking in for flights and managing other everyday tasks with minimal human input.

Altman said the social network itself may fade, but the underlying concept will not. “Moltbook may be a fad, but OpenClaw is not,” he said. According to Altman, traditional software has always been powerful, but combining code with AI that can actively use computers on its own takes things to another level. That shift, he argued, is permanent.

Altman pointed to OpenAI’s own Codex coding assistant as proof that similar ideas are already gaining traction. Codex was used by more than a million developers last month, he said. Despite the buzz, Altman admitted that overall AI adoption has been slower than he once expected. Looking back, he said the pace should not have been surprising.