OpenClaw creator spent $10 million on AI tokens last month

OpenClaw, an AI digital assistant, is aiming to become a vital tool for users, but its creator, Pete Steinberger, has spent $10 million on AI tokens in the past month, according to Cloudflare CEO Dane Knecht at the Cloudflare Connect 2026 Conference in San Francisco. Steinberger, now employed by OpenAI, disclosed during a conversation that he possesses a virtually unlimited token budget, though not everyone present could afford the same luxury.

Knecht pointed out Steinberger's remarkable spending, remarking that only a few individuals at the conference could match such a budget. Steinberger responded by questioning the practicality of using all the tokens he had acquired and highlighted the inadequacy of current infrastructure, suggesting that AI functionalities should be cloud-based instead.

He further emphasized the potential financial implications of this spending, questioning whether it was the best approach to integrate AI systems and if there were more cost-effective methods to manage AI tokens. While these revelations may not have put CFOs at ease, they could prove advantageous for Steinberger's employer as it prepares for an upcoming IPO.