OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent previously known as Clawdbot, continues to gain traction for its local control and task execution capabilities, connecting chat apps to tools like browsers and email. However, a February 2026 report highlighted that many OpenClaw setups were vulnerable due to incorrect settings, emphasizing the critical need for users to follow security guidelines, such as running it in a sandbox. Addressing broader enterprise concerns, Okta launched new Agent Discovery tools on February 12, 2026, for its Identity Security Posture Management platform. These tools help companies find unauthorized AI agents connecting to applications via OAuth, with plans to expand discovery to platforms like Microsoft Copilot Studio by May 2026.
In the competitive landscape of AI models, Z.AI's new GLM-5 model has emerged as a leader among open-weights AI, scoring 50 on the Intelligence Index and outperforming Gemini 3 Pro. It also achieved the highest agentic performance among open models, ranking third overall on the Artificial Analysis Agentic Index. This advanced model features a new architecture with 744 billion parameters, significantly reduced hallucinations, and supports a 200,000-token context window, signaling that open-weights models are rapidly closing the gap with proprietary AI offerings.
Educational institutions are rapidly integrating AI into their curricula. On February 12, 2026, Babson College introduced new AI and innovation programs for professionals, partnering with Founderz, a Microsoft training partner. Arizona State University also launched its 'AI-Informed Writing Classroom' on February 11, 2026, to teach students responsible AI use in communication. Meanwhile, Clark State College incorporated Unbound Intelligence's Assist AI platform into its nursing programs, a move that has saved faculty over five hours weekly since Fall 2024. Additionally, Interview Kickstart released a new Data Science course on February 12, 2026, in Santa Clara, California, focusing on practical skills for working professionals.
Despite rapid advancements, AI security remains a significant concern, with a cybersecurity CEO warning that development is outpacing security efforts. This gap is evident as mysterious bot traffic, largely from China and Singapore, has flooded websites since September, believed to be collecting data for AI model training. Ethical and privacy issues also persist; Albanian actor Anila Bisha is suing her government for using her image and voice for a virtual 'AI minister' named Diella without her full consent. Furthermore, a £330 million NHS contract with Palantir faces scrutiny due to concerns about the company's controversial reputation and potential impacts on patient privacy and vendor dependence, as highlighted in a June 2025 briefing.
Key Takeaways
- OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent, offers local control and privacy but requires careful security configuration, as a February 2026 report noted vulnerabilities in many setups.
- Okta launched Agent Discovery on February 12, 2026, to combat "shadow AI" by identifying unauthorized AI agents and their data access, with plans to expand to Microsoft Copilot Studio by May 2026.
- Z.AI's GLM-5 model leads open-weights AI, scoring 50 on the Intelligence Index and outperforming Gemini 3 Pro, featuring 744 billion parameters and a 200,000-token context window.
- Babson College partnered with Microsoft training partner Founderz on February 12, 2026, to offer new AI innovation courses for professionals.
- Arizona State University launched its "AI-Informed Writing Classroom" on February 11, 2026, to integrate responsible AI use into its first-year writing curriculum.
- Clark State College integrated Unbound Intelligence's Assist AI platform into nursing programs, saving faculty over five hours weekly since Fall 2024.
- A cybersecurity CEO warns that AI development is outpacing security efforts, with significant investments in AI infrastructure exacerbating the gap.
- Mysterious bot traffic, largely from China and Singapore, has increased since September, believed to be collecting data for AI model training.
- A £330 million NHS contract with Palantir faces scrutiny due to concerns about Palantir's controversial reputation and potential impacts on patient privacy and vendor dependence.
- Albanian actor Anila Bisha is suing her government for using her image and voice for a virtual "AI minister" named Diella without her full consent, citing personal data rights violations.
OpenClaw AI agent offers local control and security
OpenClaw, previously known as Clawdbot, is a popular open-source AI agent that runs on your computer. Created by Peter Steinberger, it connects chat apps to tools like browsers and email. This agentic AI helps users pursue goals and use tools safely. Security is very important, as a February CVE showed the need for quick updates. The project focuses on local control and safe tool use.
Comparing top AI tools OpenClaw Cursor Claude Windsurf
This article compares OpenClaw, Cursor, Claude Code, and Windsurf, four different AI tools for 2026. OpenClaw is best for users wanting a private, self-hosted agent that performs actions on their computer. Cursor excels in coding within an IDE, while Claude Code offers strong reasoning for various environments. Windsurf is a budget-friendly IDE copilot. The comparison helps users choose based on factors like privacy, setup, and how they execute tasks.
OpenClaw shows true power of AI agents
OpenClaw, known before as Clawdbot, demonstrates how AI agents can do more than just chat. It acts like a digital operator, executing tasks with scheduling, memory, and access to system tools. This agentic system helps with jobs like sorting emails or drafting reports. However, real autonomy also brings risks, so users must set permissions and use safety features. A February 2026 report found many OpenClaw setups were vulnerable due to incorrect settings.
Is OpenClaw AI agent safe on your computer
OpenClaw, previously called Clawdbot, is generally safe to run on a local machine if users follow security guidelines. It binds to 127.0.0.1 by default and requires authentication, with non-local access discouraged without extra security. Users should run it in a sandbox like Docker or a virtual machine and limit its access to files. The project is MIT-licensed and supports macOS and Linux. However, details about its data collection are not fully clear, so users should verify its behavior.
OpenClaw versus manual tasks cost and safety
This article compares OpenClaw, an AI agent, with traditional manual automation for tasks. OpenClaw is best for many repeated tasks, saving money and time in the long run once set up. Manual work is better for tasks that happen rarely or are unclear. OpenClaw offers more privacy if local models are used and can have stronger oversight with logging. Setting up OpenClaw is quick, but manual tasks start right away.
Top alternatives to OpenClaw AI agents
This guide explores alternatives to OpenClaw, an AI agent known for privacy and messaging integration. For easy setup and broad app connections, hosted services like Zapier or Microsoft Copilot Studio are good choices. Perplexity excels at research with web citations, while TaskMagic offers budget-friendly desktop automation. Engineers seeking code control might prefer LangChain or AutoGen. Self-hosted n8n provides a flexible automation system. Choosing an alternative depends on needs like privacy, ease of use, and specific automation tasks.
Babson College offers new AI innovation courses
On February 12, 2026, Babson College launched new AI and innovation programs for professionals. They partnered with Founderz, a Microsoft training partner, to offer four badges and one certificate. These online courses teach entrepreneurial thinking and practical AI skills using the AI-THINK method. The programs are self-paced and do not require coding experience. Babson is the first US school to work with Founderz, bringing together business leadership and applied AI knowledge.
Interview Kickstart launches new data science course
On February 12, 2026, Interview Kickstart released a new Data Science course in Santa Clara, California. This program helps working professionals gain practical skills in data analysis, machine learning, and applied AI. The course focuses on real-world problem-solving and deploying models, taught by experts from top tech companies. It includes hands-on projects, live classes, recorded lessons, and career mentorship.
Okta fights shadow AI with new discovery tools
Okta is introducing Agent Discovery to its Identity Security Posture Management platform to help companies find unauthorized AI agents. This new feature, first available in the US, will detect AI tools that connect to company applications using OAuth. It helps identify unsanctioned platforms and the data permissions they have. Harish Peri from Okta explained that AI agents work at the application level with special identities. Okta plans to expand this discovery to major AI platforms like Microsoft Copilot Studio by May 2026.
Okta adds new tools to find shadow AI agents
On February 12, 2026, Okta launched new Agent Discovery features for its Identity Security Posture Management platform. These tools help companies manage "shadow AI" by finding unauthorized AI agents and mapping their data access. The system detects OAuth connections and alerts users when unknown agents gain permissions to important data. Harish Peri from Okta noted that AI agents operate at the application layer using non-human identities. Okta plans to expand these discovery features to platforms like Microsoft Copilot Studio in early fiscal 2027.
Mysterious bot traffic floods websites from China
Since September, many websites have seen a large increase in unexplained bot traffic, mainly from China and Singapore. Website owners like Alejandro Quintero noticed these bots, often from Lanzhou, China, do not interact with pages. Gavin King of Known Agents found this traffic routes through Singapore and uses Chinese cloud providers like Tencent and Alibaba. Unlike most AI bots, these are very numerous and hide their identity, bypassing common blocking methods. Many believe these bots are collecting data to train AI models.
AI security lags behind rapid tech growth
Nikesh Arora, CEO of a major cybersecurity company, warns that AI development is outpacing security efforts. He notes that many technologists focus on creating AI products and models, seeing security as a secondary concern. This gap is growing quickly due as huge investments pour into AI infrastructure. Arora believes AI will fundamentally change lives, with both individuals and businesses rapidly adopting it. He stresses that organizations must prepare for these changes to avoid falling behind in the new AI world.
ZAI GLM-5 becomes top open AI model
Z.AI's new GLM-5 model has become the leading open-weights AI, scoring 50 on the Intelligence Index and outperforming Gemini 3 Pro. It also achieved the highest agentic performance among open models, ranking third overall on the Artificial Analysis Agentic Index. GLM-5 features a new architecture with 744 billion parameters and significantly reduced hallucinations. The model is released under the MIT License, supports a 200,000-token context window, and is available through Z.AI's API and other providers. This shows open-weights models are closing the gap with proprietary AI.
ASU launches new AI writing classroom program
On February 11, 2026, Arizona State University launched its "AI-Informed Writing Classroom" program. This new initiative changes the first-year writing curriculum to teach students about AI's role in writing and communication. Professor Adam Hoffman is leading the effort, with support from Roger Thompson, who directs ASU Writing Programs. The program will host expert discussions and offer training for faculty. It aims to help students use AI responsibly and effectively, even without a technical background.
Clark State College adds AI to nursing programs
Clark State College has added Assist, an advanced AI platform from Unbound Intelligence, to its nursing programs. This is the college's first use of AI, aiming to improve teaching and prepare nurses for modern healthcare. Scott Dolan, Dean of Nursing, says Assist helps students think critically and prioritize patient care. Faculty testing since Fall 2024 showed it saved them over five hours weekly, allowing more time for student support. The college sees AI as a helpful tool to enhance learning, not replace human judgment.
Actor sues Albania over AI minister image use
Albanian actor Anila Bisha is suing her government to stop them from using her image and voice for their virtual "AI minister" named Diella. Bisha says this use violates her personal data rights. She had agreed to let her image be used for the e-Albania online platform but was never told about the AI minister. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Diella last year to fight corruption. Bisha feels her image is now a political statement and is seeking a temporary court order and damages.
NHS Palantir AI deal questioned over firm's reputation
A £330 million NHS contract with AI company Palantir is facing scrutiny after officials expressed concerns. A June 2025 briefing revealed fears that Palantir's controversial reputation, stemming from its work with US ICE and the Israeli military, could slow down the data system's rollout in the UK. By summer 2025, fewer than half of health authorities were using the technology, and the British Medical Association opposes its use. Critics also worry about patient privacy and the NHS becoming too dependent on one vendor.
Sources
- Clawdbot (OpenClaw): Agentic AI Security Playbook 2026
- OpenClaw vs Cursor vs Claude Code vs Windsurf: 2026
- Why Clawdbot Proves the Power of AI Agents — 2026
- Is Clawdbot (OpenClaw) Safe to Run Locally?
- Clawdbot vs Manual Automation (2026): Cost, Setup & Security
- Top 10 Clawdbot Alternatives: Hosted & Self‑Hosted Picks
- Babson Expands Professional & Executive Education Portfolio · Babson Thought & Action
- 2026 Data Science Course Created by FAANG+ Data Scientists Focused on Production-Ready Skills in AI and Machine Learning
- Okta tackles shadow AI with new agent discovery tools
- Okta targets 'shadow AI' with new Identity Security Posture Management agent discovery features
- A Wave of Unexplained Bot Traffic Is Sweeping the Web
- When Security Becomes an Afterthought
- Z.AI’s GLM-5 Displaces Kimi 2.5 Thinking To Become Top Open Model, Scores Higher Than Gemini 3 Pro On Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index
- ASU launches ‘AI-Informed Writing Classroom’
- Clark State integrates advanced AI across nursing programs
- Actor takes legal action to stop Albania's government from using her image for 'AI minister'
- NHS deal with AI firm Palantir called into question after officials’ concerns revealed
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