Only a few months since OpenClaw tore off the roof of the AI world, Nvidia's latest NemoClaw is turning heads. Announced during the GTC conference keynote last week, NemoClaw is Nvidia's reference stack for the OpenClaw platform, providing a specialized infrastructure layer for easy installation with more security and privacy features.
Essentially, NemoClaw promises to be an easier, safer way for anyone to build a "claw," an AI assistant that can perform actions without constant prompts or continuous instructions. CEO Jensen Huang described OpenClaw as "an operating system for personal AI."
It's a step toward agentic AI: autonomous systems capable of planning, using tools and executing complex multistep instructions with minimal human intervention. Claws, which are powered by large language models like Claude, can handle tasks such as email and messaging, though more advanced applications of these agents are likely to become more common in the future.
Watch this: Highlights From Nvidia's GTC 2026 Keynote With Jensen Huang
According to Nvidia, NemoClaw can be set up in a single command that installs the necessary components and software to create agents. The reference stack also includes a layer of trust, creating an isolated sandbox that uses policy-based guardrails so your AI assistant handles your data securely. A privacy router allows you to connect your agent to cloud tools safely.
Always-on agents require constant computing power to complete tasks. NemoClaw was built with this in mind, optimizing claws to run 24-7 on any dedicated platform, including Nvidia's own RTX PCs, and other laptops and workstations. Dell also introduced a new NemoClaw supercomputer, the Dell Pro Max with GB10 and GB300. The most popular hardware for OpenClaw enthusiasts so far has been the Mac Mini, but manufacturers are starting to develop computers specific for this use.
The rise in popularity of claws has prompted Cisco to develop its own open-source software, DefenseClaw, made specifically to protect AI agents from cyber threats by scanning all new skills and code before they're allowed to run. DefenseClaw also allows every agent action to be tracked and observed, so there's always a history you can go back and review. The added security layer monitors for malicious activity and strictly enforces rules.
Will NemoClaw run OpenClaw agents securely?
Beyond making claws more capable, Nvidia said NemoClaw addresses the security weaknesses of the OpenClaw agent platform. Security experts had been quick to raise red flags about OpenClaw's safety, warning that the tool could act as a "backdoor" if not isolated. Attackers could hide malicious instructions in emails or websites, and a compromised agent could easily bypass traditional security tools.
So, can we actually trust what AI agents are doing when no one's watching?
Melissa Bischoping, senior director of security and product design research at the cybersecurity firm Tanium, said that while Nvidia's investment in NemoClaw is a positive sign, agentic AI systems need robust security features to truly protect users, especially given the fast pace of innovation.
"My hope is that Nvidia bakes in robust privacy and safety measures to enable adoption of, and innovation with, their agent while providing guardrails to protect users and their data," she said.
If OpenClaw is the Wild West, NemoClaw adds in a few guardrails to reduce risk. Karthik Ranganathan, CEO and co-founder of the database management company Yugabyte, said NemoClaw introduces much-needed security features where none existed before.
"NemoClaw makes sure the agent runs in a sandbox and its network traffic can be tracked and inspected," Ranganathan said. With more user control, it's easier to limit the agent in certain situations, such as preventing it from accessing a specific website.
But NemoClaw isn't quite there yet, and some "nightmare scenarios" remain unaddressed. Ranganathan gave the example of someone using OpenClaw to summarize and respond to emails. If the claw began deleting huge chunks of emails without warning, there's little that can be done to stop it. "NemoClaw does not address this," he said.
Rens Troost, CTO at Rational Exponent, an AI company for banks and financial institutions, agreed that NemoClaw is a significant advancement over raw OpenClaw, but more needs to be done. "'Significant advancement over OpenClaw' is a low bar," said Troost.
