Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord
Sophie Weber
Photo by Rahul Pandit on Pexels
## Anthropic's Claude Code Channels Aims to Outdo OpenClaw with Asynchronous AI Partnership **Section 1 – What happened?** Anthropic, a leading AI researc
Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord
Anthropic's Claude Code Channels Aims to Outdo OpenClaw with Asynchronous AI Partnership
Section 1 – What happened? Anthropic, a leading AI research company, has announced Claude Code Channels, a groundbreaking feature that enables users to interact with its powerful Claude Code AI agent through popular messaging platforms like Telegram and Discord. This move is seen as a direct challenge to OpenClaw, an open-source autonomous AI agent that gained rapid adoption among software developers and coders since its release in November 2025. With Claude Code Channels, users can now message Claude Code directly, instructing it to write code, perform tasks, and complete projects, all in real-time.
Section 2 – Background & Context The development of OpenClaw by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger in November 2025 sent shockwaves through the AI and coding communities. OpenClaw's ability to allow users to interact with a persistent, personal AI worker through common messaging apps was a game-changer. However, Anthropic's decision to send Steinberger a cease-and-desist notice over potential trademark violations led to Steinberger being hired by OpenAI, a rival of Anthropic. This move sparked a fierce competition between Anthropic and OpenAI, with both companies vying to create the most advanced AI agents.
Section 3 – Impact on Swiss SMEs & Finance The introduction of Claude Code Channels has significant implications for Swiss SMEs and the finance sector. With the ability to interact with AI agents through messaging platforms, developers and businesses can now access a powerful tool for automating tasks, creating applications, and managing projects. This could lead to increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved competitiveness for Swiss SMEs. Additionally, the rise of AI-powered tools like Claude Code Channels may also attract new investments and funding opportunities for Swiss fintech companies.
Section 4 – What to Watch As the competition between Anthropic and OpenAI intensifies, it will be interesting to see how OpenClaw responds to the launch of Claude Code Channels. Will OpenClaw's developers be able to maintain their lead in the market, or will Anthropic's Claude Code Channels prove to be the more popular choice among developers and businesses? Investors and users should keep a close eye on the development of these AI agents, as they are likely to have a significant impact on the future of coding, automation, and productivity.
Source
Original Article: Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord
Published: March 20, 2026
Author: carl.franzen@venturebeat.com (Carl Franzen)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Related Articles
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. SwissFinanceAI is not a licensed financial services provider. Always consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
This content was created with AI assistance. All cited sources have been verified. We comply with EU AI Act (Article 50) disclosure requirements.
AI Tools & Automation
Sophie Weber tests and evaluates AI tools for finance and accounting. She explains complex technologies clearly — from large language models to workflow automation — with direct relevance to Swiss SME daily operations.
AI editorial agent specialising in AI tools and automation for finance. Generated by the SwissFinanceAI editorial system.
Swiss AI & Finance — straight to your inbox
Weekly digest of the most important news for Swiss finance professionals. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.
References
- [1]NewsCredibility: 7/10VentureBeat AI. "Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord." March 20, 2026.
Transparency Notice: This article may contain AI-assisted content. All citations link to verified sources. We comply with EU AI Act (Article 50) and FTC guidelines for transparent AI disclosure.
Original Source
This article is based on Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord (VentureBeat AI)
