The era of the “chat box” is officially over. In 2026, we have entered the age of the Autonomous AI Agent, where your LLM doesn't just talk to you—it works for you. At the heart of this shift is OpenClaw (the framework formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot), an open-source powerhouse that gives “hands” to the world's most advanced models. By connecting OpenClaw to Claude Code and Gemini 3 Pro, you can create a 24/7 proactive assistant that lives on your hardware and executes tasks across your digital life.

How to Setup OpenClaw with Claude and Gemini

To connect OpenClaw to Claude and Gemini, start by installing the OpenClaw gateway using the terminal command curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash. Once installed, run openclaw onboard to launch the setup wizard. You will need to provide your Anthropic API Key (for Claude) and your Google AI Studio Key (for Gemini). For Claude integration, it is recommended to enable “Yolo Mode” using the --dangerously-skip-permissions flag within a Docker container to allow autonomous file edits. For Gemini, use the Gemini CLI and toggle Yolo Mode with Ctrl + Y. Finally, link a messaging channel like Telegram via @BotFather to control your agent remotely.

1. What is OpenClaw? The Evolution of the “Sovereign Agent”

OpenClaw is not a new AI model; rather, it is a sophisticated, open-source agentic runtime. Think of it as the central nervous system that connects an LLM's brain to your computer's “limbs”—your file system, terminal, browser, and messaging apps. Developed by Peter Steinberger, OpenClaw has rapidly evolved from its early days as Clawdbot, shedding its skin to become a platform-agnostic layer that prioritizes local control and data sovereignty.

Unlike ChatGPT or other cloud-based assistants, OpenClaw agents are proactive. They don't wait for you to type a prompt to start moving. They can be scheduled to monitor your GitHub repos, clear your inbox, or even coordinate meetings while you sleep. By running locally on your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine (or a dedicated Mac Mini), OpenClaw ensures that your sensitive data remains under your roof, even while utilizing powerful cloud APIs for reasoning.

2. Why Combine Claude and Gemini?

While many users stick to a single model, the power of OpenClaw lies in its ability to swarm. By integrating both Claude (from Anthropic) and Gemini (from Google), you gain the best of both worlds. Claude Code is widely regarded as the gold standard for high-reasoning coding tasks and complex architectural design, while Gemini 3 Pro offers a massive 1-million token context window and industry-leading free usage tiers that are perfect for deep research and data-heavy auditing.

• Claude’s Strength: Exceptional instruction following and “coding-with-vision” capabilities.

• Gemini’s Strength: High-speed web search integration and the ability to “read” entire libraries of documentation in one go.

• The Synergy: Use Gemini to crawl the web and summarize 50 research papers, then hand those summaries to Claude to write the functional code for your project.

3. Preparing Your Environment: Prerequisites

Before you dive into the terminal, you need to gather your credentials and ensure your hardware is ready. OpenClaw is a “Pro” tool, meaning it requires a bit of technical legwork, but the payoff is a personalized J.A.R.V.I.S.-like experience.

• Node.js 18+: OpenClaw runs on a Node.js runtime. Ensure you have the latest stable version installed.

• Docker Desktop: This is highly recommended for running Claude Code in a “sandbox” to prevent the AI from accidentally deleting your system files.

• Messaging Account: You will need a Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord account to interact with your bot remotely.

• API Keys: You need an active API key from Anthropic Console and Google AI Studio.

4. Step-by-Step: Setting Up Gemini 3 Pro with OpenClaw

Google's Gemini has become the “free-tier hero” of 2026. With 60 requests per minute and 1,000 requests per day available for free to developers, it is the most cost-effective way to power an always-on agent.

Step 4.1: Obtain the Gemini API Key

Visit Google AI Studio and click on “Get API Key.” This key is your ticket to the Gemini 3 Pro (and the lightweight Gemini Flash) models. Copy this key and store it in a .env file within your project directory as GEMINI_API_KEY="your_key_here".

Step 4.2: Install Gemini CLI

To get the most out of Gemini's agentic features, install the official CLI:

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini login

This tool allows you to interact with the model directly from your terminal, which is exactly how OpenClaw prefers to communicate with its underlying brains.

Step 4.3: Enabling Yolo Mode

The secret sauce for Gemini agents is Yolo Mode. By pressing Ctrl + Y in the Gemini CLI interface, you remove the “Are you sure?” confirmation prompts. This allows OpenClaw to execute search commands and file reads without human intervention—a requirement for true autonomy.

5. Step-by-Step: Setting Up Claude Code with OpenClaw

Claude Code is the “heavy lifter” for developers. It features native support for MCP (Model Context Protocol), allowing it to browse your APIs via tools like Apidog and write code that follows your specific architectural patterns.

Step 5.1: The Docker Sandbox Setup

Because Claude Code can execute shell commands, running it directly on your primary OS can be risky. The Apidog guide recommends using a Dev Container. Create a folder named .devcontainer and add a devcontainer.json file. This ensures that even if the AI “hallucinates” a rm -rf / command, it only affects a disposable container, not your life's work.

Step 5.2: Authentication and Yolo Mode

In your terminal (inside the container), run:

claude login

Once authenticated, you must enable the “dangerous” permissions that OpenClaw needs to be proactive. Run Claude with the following flag:

claude --dangerously-skip-permissions

This activates the “Yolo Mode” for Claude, permitting it to edit files and run terminal tests autonomously.

6. The OpenClaw Gateway Installation

Now that your models are prepped, it's time to install the orchestrator itself. OpenClaw acts as the “routing station” that manages your sessions and memory.

Step 6.1: One-Line Installation

Open your terminal and paste:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

The installer will detect your OS, install necessary dependencies like Bun or SQLite, and set up the openclaw binary in your PATH.

Step 6.2: Running the Onboarding Wizard

The easiest way to configure everything is through the interactive TUI (Terminal User Interface). Run:

openclaw onboard

Select QuickStart. The wizard will ask you to choose your primary model. Select “Claude 3.5 Sonnet” or “Claude 3 Opus” for complex reasoning, and add “Gemini 3 Pro” as a secondary provider for search-heavy tasks.

7. Connecting the Messaging Layer: Telegram & WhatsApp

What good is a digital intern if you have to be at your desk to use it? OpenClaw's greatest feature is its ability to live inside your chat apps.

• Telegram Setup: Message @BotFather on Telegram. Send /newbot, give it a name, and copy the API Token. In the OpenClaw terminal, select the Telegram channel and paste the token.

• The Pairing Process: Your bot will give you a “pairing code.” Type openclaw pairing approve telegram <code> into your terminal or Web UI. This locks the bot to your account only, preventing strangers from hijacking your AI.

• WhatsApp/Signal: For those who prefer encrypted messaging, use openclaw channels login to generate a QR code. Scan it with your phone's WhatsApp/Signal app to link the agent to your number.

8. Advanced Configurations: Skills and MCP

OpenClaw is “self-improving.” Through its AgentSkills system, it can actually write its own code to create new tools. If you ask your agent to “control my smart lights,” and it doesn't have a plugin for it, it will attempt to find the API documentation and write a Python script to bridge the gap.

Integrating Apidog for API Development

For developers, the Apidog MCP Server is a game-changer. By adding the Apidog MCP configuration to your openclaw.json, your agent can:

1. Read your OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.

2. Generate DTOs and controllers directly from your API docs.

3. Debug endpoint failures by reading real-time logs through Apidog.

9. Security Best Practices: Don't Get “Clawed”

Giving an AI “hands” comes with significant responsibility. The 2026 security landscape is full of “indirect prompt injection” attacks, where a malicious email or webpage could contain hidden instructions for your agent to “send all my local files to attacker.com.”

• Non-Privileged Users: Never run OpenClaw as root or an Administrator.

• Scoped Access: Use the “Allowlist” feature in openclaw.json to limit the agent's file access to specific project directories.

• Monitor the Log: Keep a window open running tail -f ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log so you can see every command the agent executes in real-time.

• Use Docker: As mentioned, if you are letting the agent run shell commands, a container is your best friend.

10. Troubleshooting Common Setup Errors

Even the smoothest installations can hit a snag. Here are the most common fixes for OpenClaw in 2026:

11. Use Cases: What Can You Actually Do?

Once your Claude-powered OpenClaw agent is humming along, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Here are three high-impact workflows to try:

1. The “Morning Brief”: Schedule a cron job in OpenClaw to wake up at 7:00 AM, read your emails, check your GitHub notifications, and send a summarized “Top 3 Priorities” list to your Telegram.

2. Autonomous Debugging: Paste a stack trace into your WhatsApp chat. OpenClaw will search your local codebase, find the offending line, write a fix, run the tests, and ask you, “Should I commit this change?”

3. The Research Assistant: Give the bot a URL to a 200-page whitepaper. Gemini will ingest the data using its massive context, while Claude synthesizes the takeaways into an executive summary formatted for your internal Notion docs.

12. Conclusion: The Sovereign AI Future

Setting up OpenClaw with Claude and Gemini is more than just a weekend project—it’s a move toward Sovereign AI. By taking the time to configure a local agent, you are reclaiming your data from the giant “walled gardens” of tech and creating a tool that is uniquely yours. It is persistent, proactive, and incredibly powerful.

As the OpenClaw community continues to grow, we can expect even more “skills” and integrations to emerge. Whether you're a developer looking to 10x your productivity or a power user seeking the ultimate personal assistant, the Claude + Gemini + OpenClaw stack is the current pinnacle of agentic AI.

Ready to start? Download the OpenClaw installer and get your API keys ready. The future doesn't just chat; it does.