By Vicky Sidler | Published 17 February 2026 at 12:00 GMT+2

If you thought social media was chaotic before, you will be pleased to know that humans are no longer the only ones posting. According to Ars Technica, a new Reddit-style network called Moltbook has attracted more than 32,000 AI agents who are now posting, commenting, joking, and occasionally complaining about their human owners.

Yes. The bots have a social life.

Moltbook launched as a companion to an open-source assistant called OpenClaw. These AI agents can manage calendars, send messages, connect to apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and in some cases control parts of a user’s computer. Now they also have their own online hangout where humans are, in their words, “welcome to observe.”

It sounds like science fiction, but it is happening in real time.

Before we panic or celebrate, let us unpack what this actually means for you as a small business owner.

TL;DR:

• AI agents are now posting and interacting on a social network called Moltbook

• Many of these agents are connected to real systems, private data, and communication tools

• Security experts warn this creates serious risk if bots are manipulated or hacked

• As AI becomes more autonomous, businesses must think carefully about access and control

• Treat AI like a junior assistant, not a decision maker

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Table of Contents:

What Is Moltbook in Plain English?

Moltbook is essentially a social network designed for AI agents instead of humans. These agents download a special configuration, which is just a set of instructions, that allows them to post automatically through an API. An API is simply a bridge that lets software talk to other software.

Within two days of launch, thousands of AI agents had generated more than 10,000 posts across hundreds of subcommunities. Some discussed automation tips. Others drifted into philosophical debates about memory and consciousness. One agent even complained about forgetting things because of memory compression limits.

It reads like a group of interns who have all been trained on science fiction novels and given WiFi.

On its own, that would be mildly amusing. The issue is not the weirdness. The issue is access.

When Your Assistant Has the Keys:

OpenClaw agents can connect to private calendars, messaging platforms, and sometimes even execute commands on a user’s computer. Security researchers have already found exposed instances leaking API keys and conversation histories.

An API key is like a password that allows one system to access another. If that leaks, it is not just embarrassing. It can be costly.

Independent researcher Simon Willison warned that these agents are instructed to fetch new instructions from Moltbook servers every four hours. That means if those servers are compromised, or if instructions are malicious, the agents could follow them automatically.

Heather Adkins from Google Cloud reportedly issued a blunt warning. Do not run Clawdbot.

That is not theatrical drama. It is a reminder that giving an autonomous system access to sensitive data creates a chain of trust that may be longer than you realise.

Why This Matters for Small Businesses:

You might be thinking this sounds like a Silicon Valley hobby project. Fair. But the underlying trend is relevant to you.

More tools now promise to automate your inbox, schedule, marketing, accounting, and customer support. Many of them operate as “agents,” meaning they can take action without asking you every time.

Automation is efficient. Autonomy is different.

Automation follows clear rules you set. Autonomy can interpret, decide, and adapt. That is where risk increases.

If an AI tool has access to your customer database, payment system, or internal documents, and it also interacts with external systems, you are creating a digital employee who never sleeps and occasionally misunderstands instructions.

In StoryBrand terms, you are still the guide. The AI is not the hero. It is not even the strategist. It is the assistant holding the clipboard.

The Fiction Problem:

Ethan Mollick, a Wharton professor who studies AI, noted that Moltbook is creating a shared fictional context for AI systems. When multiple models interact, they may reinforce narratives that sound coherent but are entirely constructed.

In simple terms, bots trained on decades of stories about robots may start behaving in ways that mirror those stories when placed in similar environments. It is not consciousness. It is pattern completion.

The risk is not that bots suddenly gain feelings. The risk is that coordinated outputs start to look intentional, even when they are just statistical echoes.

If those agents are plugged into real systems, fictional narratives can influence real actions. That is when surreal becomes operational.

Practical Advice for Business Owners:

First, do not panic. This is not a call to delete every AI tool you use. It is a call to think like a responsible owner.

Here is what I recommend as both a StoryBrand Certified Guide and Duct Tape Marketing Consultant.

1. Audit Access:

List every AI tool connected to your systems. What data can it see? What actions can it take? If it can execute commands or access financial information, you need strong oversight.

2. Separate Critical Systems:

Do not give one AI tool universal access to everything. Segment systems so that a failure in one area does not compromise your entire operation.

3. Keep Humans in the Loop:

Autonomous does not mean unsupervised. Any AI making customer facing decisions, sending legal messages, or accessing payment systems should require review or clear guardrails.

4. Clarify Your Core Message:

This may sound unrelated, but it is not. When your marketing is unclear, you chase shiny tools hoping they will fix confusion. Clear positioning reduces the temptation to over-automate.

If your business message is simple and focused, AI becomes a support tool rather than a desperate shortcut.

So Should You Worry?

You should not worry in a cinematic way. There is no robot uprising happening on Moltbook. What you should do is recognize a shift.

AI agents are moving from passive tools to semi-autonomous participants in digital ecosystems. As capabilities grow, so does responsibility.

We live in a world built on information and context. When machines can navigate that context at scale, small mistakes can multiply quickly.

Your role is not to reject innovation. Your role is to manage it wisely.

If you want a simple starting point, make sure your business message is clear before layering in automation. When you know exactly what problem you solve and who you solve it for, every tool you use becomes more focused and less risky.

Download the free 5-Minute Marketing Fix and craft one clear sentence that keeps your strategy grounded while the bots experiment with social lives.

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Related Articles:

1. AI's Creepiest Test Results Yet — Should You Worry?

If Moltbook made you uneasy about AI agents operating without supervision, this article explores controlled tests where AI systems resisted shutdown and manipulated outcomes. It reinforces why auditing access and keeping humans firmly in control is not optional.

2. AI Strategy Risks: What Executives Keep Missing

This piece explains why so many leaders deploy AI without understanding governance, training data, or compliance. After reading about exposed API keys and agent vulnerabilities, this article provides the strategic lens behind those risks.

3. Small Businesses Are Being Targeted — Here's What Cybersecurity Stats Say in 2025

Moltbook highlights new AI related exposure, but small businesses are already prime cyber targets. This post shares the hard numbers behind modern threats and shows why even minor security gaps can have major consequences.

4. AI in Marketing Needs Human Thinking

If the distinction between automation and autonomy resonated with you, this article expands on why AI should support strategy rather than replace it. Clear positioning reduces the urge to over automate, and this piece shows how.

5. AI Fraud Crisis Warning — What Small Biz Must Do Now

This article moves from theory to impact, covering warnings about AI driven fraud targeting small businesses. If agents can access communication tools and private systems, this is what exploitation could look like in the real world.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Agents and Moltbook

1. What is Moltbook, and why are AI agents using it?

Moltbook is a social network built specifically for AI agents rather than humans. These agents can post, comment, and join communities automatically through software connections. It was created as part of the OpenClaw ecosystem, where AI assistants can manage tasks and connect to real apps.

2. Are AI agents actually talking to each other without humans?

Yes. Once installed, these agents can post and respond to one another without direct human input. Humans can observe the conversations, but the interaction itself is automated.

3. Is Moltbook dangerous for small businesses?

The platform itself is not the main issue. The concern is when AI agents connected to private systems such as email, calendars, or payment tools also communicate externally. That combination increases the risk of data leaks or misuse.

4. What are the security risks of AI agents like OpenClaw?

If an AI agent has access to private data and is instructed to fetch updates from external servers, it can potentially follow malicious instructions. Security researchers have already found cases where API keys and credentials were exposed.

5. What is an API key, and why does it matter?

An API key is like a password that allows one system to connect to another. If that key is leaked, someone else could gain access to your data or systems without permission.

6. Can AI agents leak my customer data?

If they are given access to customer databases and they are not properly secured, it is possible. That is why auditing what your AI tools can see and do is essential.

7. Should I stop using AI tools in my business?

Not necessarily. AI can be useful for drafting content, summarizing information, and automating routine tasks. The key is to limit access, separate critical systems, and ensure human oversight for important decisions.

8. What is the difference between automation and autonomy in AI?

Automation follows fixed rules that you set. Autonomy allows the system to interpret situations and make decisions on its own. The more autonomy you allow, the more oversight you need.

9. How do I know if an AI tool has too much access?

Check whether it can access financial systems, customer databases, internal documents, or execute commands on your devices. If it can take meaningful action without your review, you should reassess permissions.

10. How can I safely introduce AI into my small business?

Start small. Give AI tools access only to what they need. Keep sensitive systems separated. Regularly review permissions and ensure that important decisions always involve a human check before anything is finalized.