# Getting Started with OpenClaw: Your Personal AI Assistant

> Install OpenClaw locally, connect messaging channels and skills, and harden security — your private, extensible AI agent.

Published: 2026-03-01  
Canonical: https://aimastermindlab.com/tutorials/getting-started-openclaw

---
OpenClaw is an open-source, extensible AI agent that lives on your server and connects seamlessly to your messaging channels (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack) to act as your autonomous personal assistant.

## Why OpenClaw?
Unlike web-based chatbots like ChatGPT, OpenClaw runs background tasks and connects directly to your life. 
It can read your emails, schedule your calendar, execute scripts on your laptop, and text you back on WhatsApp. Best of all, it's highly modular via **AgentSkills**.

## 1. Installation

Getting OpenClaw running requires Node.js v20+ and Redis.

```bash
# Install the OpenClaw CLI globally
npm install -g @openclaw/cli

# Run the onboarding script
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
```

The wizard will ask you for your preferred LLM provider. OpenClaw supports OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, and local inference via Ollama.

## 2. Connecting Messaging Channels

An agent isn't an agent until you can talk to it.

```bash
openclaw connect telegram
```
This will prompt you for a Telegram Bot API Token (obtained via BotFather). Once entered, you can immediately open Telegram on your phone and start chatting with OpenClaw.

## 3. Installing Skills

The magic of OpenClaw lies in the skills registry.

```bash
# Give OpenClaw the ability to search the web
openclaw skill install web-search

# Give OpenClaw the ability to read and send emails
openclaw skill install gmail-integration
```

Now you can message your bot on Telegram: *"Search the web for the latest deep learning papers from ArXiv and email a summary to my boss."* The agent will execute both skills autonomously.

## 4. Security Hardening

Having an autonomous agent with email access requires strict security:
- **Use Local Models**: Running Llama 3 locally via Ollama ensures your data never leaves your machine.
- **Human In The Loop (HITL)**: You can configure OpenClaw to ask for a "Y/N" confirmation over Telegram before it executes destructive actions (like sending an email or spending money).
- **Least Privilege**: Only give OpenClaw the specific API keys it needs.

Welcome to the future of personal automation.
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Source: https://aimastermindlab.com/tutorials/getting-started-openclaw — AI Mastermind Lab (https://aimastermindlab.com)