The explosive popularity of the open-source AI agent framework, OpenClaw, has prompted a massive response from China’s technology giants. Baidu, the country’s leading search and artificial intelligence company, has officially entered the fray, unveiling a comprehensive suite of AI agent products built around the OpenClaw architecture. The launch, which integrates the framework directly into Baidu’s massive consumer ecosystem, coincides with the release of the company’s next-generation foundation models: the multimodal Ernie 4.5 and the deep-thinking reasoning model, Ernie X1.
The rapid adoption of OpenClaw, which allows large language models to act autonomously, controlling browsers and executing complex workflows, has reshaped the Chinese AI landscape in a matter of months. By embracing the open-source framework rather than fighting it, Baidu is positioning itself as the primary infrastructure provider for the emerging “agentic” economy.
Zero Deployment: Agents for 700 Million Users
The centerpiece of Baidu’s announcement is the integration of OpenClaw directly into the Baidu App. According to a recent LinkedIn post detailing the launch, Baidu’s 700 million monthly active users can now deploy a personal AI agent with a single click, requiring no additional installation or technical expertise.
Users can initiate tasks by simply searching “@OpenClaw” or using the app’s private messaging interface. The agent can then autonomously handle complex, multi-step workflows, such as clearing inboxes, scheduling meetings, or booking flights. This “zero deployment” strategy significantly lowers the barrier to entry for AI agents, moving the technology from developer circles into mainstream consumer use.
Furthermore, Baidu is extending this capability beyond mobile devices. The company announced that its Xiaodu series of smart displays has fully integrated “DuClaw,” marking the first application of the OpenClaw framework in household hardware. Users can now command their smart displays to execute complex tasks across different devices and applications, achieving what Baidu calls “online + offline full-link integration.”
Powering the Agents: Ernie 4.5 and X1
The intelligence driving these new agents comes from Baidu’s latest foundation models. The company officially released Ernie 4.5, a native multimodal model designed to handle text, image, and audio inputs seamlessly. Alongside it, Baidu has Ernie X1, a specialized “deep-thinking” reasoning model designed to tackle complex logical problems and multi-step planning—capabilities essential for effective AI agents.
To support the developer ecosystem, Baidu has launched DuClaw, a fully managed service hosted on Baidu AI Cloud’s high-performance infrastructure. This allows developers to build and deploy OpenClaw agents without managing the underlying compute resources.
Baidu is also rapidly expanding the “Skills” ecosystem that gives OpenClaw agents their capabilities. The Baidu Search Skill, which provides generative AI with real-time web access, has already surpassed 45,000 downloads, making it the most downloaded official search engine skill globally on the ClawHub store. Other notable additions include the Miaoda App Builder Skill, which allows users to create web pages and mini-programs through natural language, and the Baidu Famou Skill, designed for scientific research and algorithmic automation.
Security in the Agent Era
As AI agents gain the ability to act autonomously on behalf of users, security has become a paramount concern. Baidu addressed this directly, noting that without robust safeguards, the hundreds of thousands of openly accessible OpenClaw agents worldwide could be vulnerable to malicious attacks.
To mitigate these risks, Baidu’s security team has implemented a comprehensive framework specifically designed for AI agents. This includes strict environmental isolation, skill control, access control, and memory management. The company’s core philosophy is to ensure that agents access only the minimum necessary data, keeping the user in full control of their information. Baidu’s aggressive embrace of OpenClaw signals a significant shift in the AI race. Rather than relying solely on proprietary, closed-ecosystem chatbots, the company is betting that the future belongs to open, interoperable agents powered by robust cloud infrastructure and advanced reasoning models. As the “Hundred Shrimp War” over OpenClaw dominance intensifies, Baidu’s massive user base and deep technical resources make it a formidable contender. (Related: ByteDance Backs OpenClaw’s China Mirror as AI Agent Platforms Race to Localize)