Key facts
- Content creator Ben Guez is using an AI agent called OpenClaw, along with Claude, to automate Instagram posts.
- Guez's automated posts, triggered by World Cup match results, have generated over one million views and 200 direct messages.
- He directs interested women to download his app, Canary, to send him messages.
- Jeff Weisbein, founder of a tech PR firm, uses OpenClaw for date planning research.
- A tech worker named Cailey uses Claude to automate breakup messages.
- Security experts warn about the privacy risks associated with AI assistants having control over personal accounts.
Ben Guez, a content creator and startup founder, has employed an automated system using the open-source AI agent OpenClaw and Claude to generate Instagram "trial reels." These posts, triggered by World Cup match outcomes, feature Guez appearing dejected with captions like "I can’t believe {COUNTRY} lost… If any {COUNTRY} girls need emotional support… my DMs are open." Since implementing this strategy, Guez reports over one million views and 200 direct messages, with a requirement that all DMs be sent through his AI language learning app, Canary, to drive downloads.
While Guez claims women are impressed by his "outside the box" thinking rather than feeling deceived, TechCrunch could not independently verify these reactions. The use of AI for personal interactions is becoming more widespread. Jeff Weisbein, founder of a tech PR firm, utilizes OpenClaw to research date locations in South Florida, compiling documents with recommendations.
Other individuals are exploring AI for more sensitive communication. A tech worker named Cailey uses Claude to craft and send automated breakup messages, aiming to reduce the anxiety of initiating such conversations. However, this approach has led to awkward situations, such as when a date realized he was communicating with an AI.
Security advocates, including Lazer Cohen, co-founder of NanoClaw, a competitor to OpenClaw, have raised concerns about the privacy implications of granting AI assistants access to personal accounts and information. Cohen emphasizes the need for human oversight, citing instances where AI tools have created dating profiles without consent or revealed their use as dating coaches. NanoClaw itself is marketed with use cases like managing family schedules, positioning itself as a more secure alternative.