BEIJING, March 18 (Reuters) - Chinese tech giant Baidu ( BIDU )

on Tuesday unveiled a suite of artificial intelligence

products, tapping growing domestic interest in OpenClaw, an

open-source framework for agents that can perform complex tasks

with less human input than chatbots.

The company introduced what it called a family of "lobsters"

- a popular nickname for AI agents built on OpenClaw - spanning

desktop software, cloud services, mobile tools and smart-home

devices.

The agents are designed to carry out multi-step tasks such

as editing videos, creating presentations, conducting research

or ordering coffee, operating across multiple apps and devices.

OpenClaw's rapid global uptake has fostered a growing

community of enthusiasts in China who describe themselves as

"raising lobsters", reflecting the idea that agents improve

through feedback and training.

Chinese tech giants including Alibaba ( BABA ), Tencent ( TCTZF )

, and Baidu ( BIDU ) have embraced the trend, rolling out

OpenClaw-based products as they look for new revenue streams.

Speaking at a company event, Baidu ( BIDU ) Executive Vice-President

Shen Dou said the technology could reshape how software connects

devices and services.

"It could become an operating-system-level capability for a

new era, unlocking almost all hardware and breaking down the

barriers between devices," Shen said.

Baidu ( BIDU ) said its agent ecosystem includes the DuMate desktop

assistant, the RedClaw mobile platform and a cloud service,

DuClaw, which allows users to deploy agents without configuring

hardware.

Its smart-device unit Xiaodu said its speakers will

integrate OpenClaw capabilities, enabling voice commands to

trigger complex tasks across household devices.

"This lobster is still not perfect," Shen cautioned. "It

makes mistakes, takes detours and sometimes even complicates

simple things."

Baidu's ( BIDU ) push comes as it seeks to regain ground lost in

China's AI chatbot market. After gaining an early lead in 2023

with its answer to ChatGPT, rival chatbots such as Bytedance's

Doubao, Tencent's ( TCTZF ) Yuanbao, and Alibaba's ( BABA ) Qwen have surged in

popularity.

Zac Cheah, co-founder of Singapore-based platform Pundi AI,

said OpenClaw-style tools are spreading quickly in China.

"Chinese users are comfortable with super-app ecosystems,

and products such as Doubao, Tencent Yuanbao, and Qwen have

already familiarised the public with AI at scale," he said.