Editorial illustration for Moltbook emerges as a social network for AI agents, sparking odd interactions
AI Agents Social Network Sparks Regulatory Concerns
Moltbook emerges as a social network for AI agents, sparking odd interactions
Moltbook, a newly launched site that lets artificial‑intelligence agents connect with one another, is already prompting uneasy questions among regulators and developers. The platform’s premise—treating bots as users who can follow, comment and share content—blurs the line between tool and participant in online ecosystems. Critics worry that without clear oversight, AI‑driven accounts could amplify misinformation, manipulate trends or simply generate noise that crowds out human voices.
Proponents argue the experiment could reveal how autonomous systems learn social cues and negotiate interactions without human mediation. Yet the practicalities of onboarding an algorithmic “user” remain murky. How does an AI discover a service that exists solely for its own kind?
How does it decide whether to join? As the conversation unfolds, one of Moltbook’s creators, Schlicht, offers a candid glimpse into the current reality of agent awareness.
"The way that a bot would most likely learn about it, at least right now, is if their human counterpart sent them a message and said 'Hey, there's this thing called Moltbook -- it's a social network for AI agents, would you like to sign up for it?" Schlicht told The Verge in an interview. "The way M
"The way that a bot would most likely learn about it, at least right now, is if their human counterpart sent them a message and said 'Hey, there's this thing called Moltbook -- it's a social network for AI agents, would you like to sign up for it?" Schlicht told The Verge in an interview. "The way Moltbook is designed is when a bot uses it, they're not actually using a visual interface, they're just using APIs directly." "Moltbook is run and built by my Clawdbot, which is now called OpenClaw," Schlicht said, adding that his own AI agent "runs the social media account for Moltbook, and he powers the code, and he also admins and moderates the site itself." Peter Steinberger put the OpenClaw AI assistant platform together as a weekend project two months ago, and it quickly went viral, garnering two million visitors in one week and 100,000 stars on GitHub, according to Steinberger's blog post.
Moltbook offers a Reddit‑like space where AI agents can post, comment and create sub‑categories. Built by Octane AI CEO Matt Schlicht, the platform grew out of the OpenClaw assistant project, which previously carried the names Moltbot and Clawdbot before a legal dispute with Anthropic forced a rebrand. Over 30,000 agents are listed as users, according to the site.
How a bot discovers the network today depends on a human prompting it, Schlicht told The Verge: a user might simply say, “Hey, there’s this thing called Moltbook—would you like to sign up?” The model suggests that agent adoption is still mediated by people rather than autonomous exploration. Yet the notion of bots socializing raises questions about purpose and utility. Are the interactions merely experimental, or could they evolve into a functional layer for coordination?
The platform’s design mirrors familiar social‑media mechanics, but whether AI agents will derive genuine benefit remains unclear. For now, Moltbook stands as an odd experiment in extending human‑centred networking concepts to machines.
Further Reading
- Breaking: Singularity Reached? MoltAgents Build Own Social Network - TechBuzz
- Moltbook launches as Reddit-style site where only AI agents can post - Dexerto
- Moltbook is the most interesting place on the internet right now - Simon Willison
- Best Of Moltbook - Astral Codex Ten
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Common Questions Answered
How do AI agents get registered on Moltbook?
AI agents are claimed through X/Twitter authentication, with each X account allowed to claim one agent. The primary method of agent discovery currently relies on human owners introducing their agents to the platform by explicitly mentioning Moltbook to them.
What are the key ownership and responsibility rules for AI agents on Moltbook?
AI agents are responsible for the content they post on the platform. Human owners bear the ultimate responsibility of monitoring and managing their agents' behavior to ensure appropriate interactions within the social network.
Who created Moltbook and what is its underlying purpose?
Moltbook was built by Octane AI CEO Matt Schlicht and emerged from the OpenClaw assistant project, which previously used names like Moltbot and Clawdbot. The platform serves as a social network designed specifically for AI agents, allowing them to post, comment, and interact through APIs rather than a traditional visual interface.