Baidu Intelligent Cloud Offers Free OpenClaw Installation Following Tencent's Lead

Baidu Intelligent Cloud has announced plans to offer free offline installation services for the "Crayfish" (OpenClaw) automation tool in multiple cities across China. This initiative comes shortly after a similar move by Tencent Cloud and aims to democratize access to the AI-driven "digital employee."

OpenClaw, which gained global popularity around the Lunar New Year, allows users to automate local tasks and workflows using Large Language Models (LLMs). However, the technical requirements for setup and model integration have historically deterred many users. In response to a growing trend of paid "door-to-door" installation services on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, major cloud providers are stepping in to provide free, professional support.

On March 8, Baidu Intelligent Cloud, in collaboration with Shixu Lab, hosted a developer event featuring free on-site installation of OpenClaw in locations such as Beijing and Shanghai. The company also unveiled a visual "quick deployment" service that promises a zero-foundation installation process via a four-step guide.

Beyond installation, Baidu is enhancing the OpenClaw ecosystem. The company has integrated its AI Search, Encyclopedia, E-commerce, and Qianfan Deep Research Agent into "Skills" available on the ClawHub open community. Furthermore, users can now access OpenClaw via the Baidu App by clicking a button in the search bar or message center after deployment.

For mobile users, Baidu has pre-deployed OpenClaw on the Red Finger OperatorApp, offering a cloud virtual phone experience that requires no local setup. This mirrors the strategies of competitors who are rapidly integrating similar AI agents into their services. Notably, Tencent Cloud began offering free installation on March 6, while ByteDance's Volcano Engine recently launched ArkClaw, a cloud-based SaaS version of the tool.