🦞OpenClaw Guide
ai automation

AI That Does, Not Just Says

ChatGPT can draft an email. OpenClaw sends it. Stop copying and pasting—let AI take real action on your behalf.

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The Problem With 'Assistant' AI

AI drafts, you still execute

ChatGPT writes the perfect email, then you copy it, open Gmail, paste it, and send. That's not automation—that's slightly faster typing.

No connection to your tools

Your AI can't see your calendar, access your files, or check your email. It's giving advice blind, without context from your actual life.

One-off responses, not workflows

Every request is a single response. There's no 'do this every morning' or 'when X happens, do Y.' No ongoing automation.

The last mile is manual

AI gets you 90% there, but that last 10%—actually doing the thing—still requires your hands, your time, your attention.

How OpenClaw Automates Your Life

Executes, not just suggests

'Send Sarah an email about the meeting' actually sends the email. 'Add milk to my shopping list' actually adds it. No copy-paste required.

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Connected to your tools

Gmail, Google Calendar, Notion, Home Assistant, Todoist—OpenClaw integrates with the tools you actually use. It works with real context.

Scheduled and triggered automations

'Send me a daily briefing at 7am' runs automatically. 'When I get an email from investors, draft a response' triggers in real-time.

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Multi-step workflows

'Summarize today's emails, add action items to my task list, and block focus time on my calendar' executes as one command.

Automation Comparison

FeatureChatGPTOpenClaw
Send emails❌ Drafts only✅ Sends directly
Manage calendar❌ No access✅ Full control
Control smart home❌ No✅ Yes
Scheduled tasks❌ No✅ Yes
Multi-step workflows❌ No✅ Yes
Triggered automations❌ No✅ Yes
File management❌ No✅ Yes
Custom integrationsLimited plugins✅ Unlimited skills

Automations That Actually Run

Email Management

Forward emails to OpenClaw for summary and action. 'Decline politely' actually sends the decline. 'Schedule a follow-up' creates the calendar event.

You: 'Send John an email saying I'll be 10 minutes late to our 2pm'
OpenClaw: 'Done. Email sent to john@company.com with subject "Running slightly late"'

Morning Briefing

Every morning at 7am, OpenClaw sends you a summary of today's calendar, pending tasks, weather, and any overnight emails that need attention.

OpenClaw (7am): 'Good morning! You have 4 meetings today. The 10am with Acme is a pitch—I'd review the deck. High of 72°F. 3 emails overnight, one from Lisa seems urgent.'

Smart Home Control

'Set the office to 72 degrees' adjusts your thermostat. 'Turn off all lights downstairs' does exactly that. Control your home via WhatsApp.

You: 'I'm heading to bed, do the usual'
OpenClaw: 'Done. Locked doors, set alarm, lights off downstairs, thermostat set to 68°F for sleeping.'

Research to Action

'Find the best restaurant near the office for a client dinner and book a table for Thursday at 7pm' handles the entire workflow.

You: 'Find a nice Italian place near downtown for Friday, table for 4'
OpenClaw: 'Found 3 options: Rosso (4.8★), Trattoria Milano (4.6★), or Bella Notte (4.5★). Rosso has availability at 7:30pm. Should I book it?'

What People Say

The automation aspect sold me. I say 'decline the meeting with Mike' and it actually declines. No more copy-paste workflows.

Rachel S., Product Manager

My morning briefing automation saves me 30 minutes every day. I wake up knowing exactly what needs my attention.

Tom H., Executive

Frequently Asked Questions

What can OpenClaw automate?

Email (Gmail, Outlook), calendar (Google, Apple), task lists (Todoist, Notion), smart home (Home Assistant), file management, web actions, and custom integrations via API. If there's an API, OpenClaw can probably automate it.

Is it safe to let AI send emails on my behalf?

OpenClaw can be configured to require confirmation before sending, or to operate autonomously. Start with confirmation mode until you trust it, then open up automation as you're comfortable.

How do I create scheduled automations?

Just tell OpenClaw: 'Every weekday at 8am, send me a summary of today's calendar.' It creates the schedule automatically. You can also use cron syntax for complex schedules.

Can I create custom automations?

Yes. OpenClaw's skill system lets you add any integration. If a service has an API, you can teach OpenClaw to use it. Community skills are available for popular tools.

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Stop Doing, Start Delegating

Let AI handle the busywork. You focus on what matters.

Start Automating