Meta Acknowledges OpenClaw Influence on Muse AI

The controversy erupted after Ansh Nanda, an AI app co-founder, shared a viral thread demonstrating that Muse appeared to be a functional clone of OpenClaw. Users discovered that Muse utilized a SOUL.md configuration file—a hallmark of OpenClaw—that contained content almost indistinguishable from the original. When confronted with the fact that even the file structures were mirrored, Friedman did not dispute the overlap. Instead, he maintained that Meta built Muse from scratch while explicitly adopting the design philosophy of OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger, whom he described as a genius.

This strategy aligns with Meta’s historical approach of identifying successful niche innovations and adapting them for mass-market consumption. Despite the criticism regarding originality, the product strategy is yielding measurable results. Muse recently secured the top spot on the U.S. App Store, reportedly outpacing the launch trajectory of ChatGPT when adjusted for market availability. A Meta spokesperson declined to provide further comment, directing all inquiries back to Friedman’s public acknowledgment.