‘Value for money’: AI agent OpenClaw adopts Chinese models for cost edge over US rivals

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Ben JiangFebruary 3, 2026 at 01:00 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

OpenClaw, a popular AI agent launched in late 2025, is integrating Chinese open-source AI models like Moonshot AI's Kimi K2.5 and MiniMax into its service. This decision is driven by the cost-effectiveness of Chinese models compared to their US counterparts. Experts note that users of autonomous AI agents have experienced unexpectedly high costs due to token consumption. Chinese models, particularly those from DeepSeek, are recognized for their competitive pricing. Moonshot AI's Kimi K2.5, for example, offers significantly lower pricing per million tokens than many US alternatives, making it an attractive option for OpenClaw to manage costs.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Beijing 40% Intelligent Parameters 50% DeepSeek 50% Luo Liang 60% United States ×260% MiniMax ×270% Moonshot AI ×380% China ×480% OpenClaw ×490%

Keywords

artificial intelligence 90% chinese models 90% openclaw 80% ai models 80% value for money 70% open-source 70% cost 70% performance 60% tokens 50% minimax 40%