OpenClaw

Connect OpenClaw to TensorX.ai and run a privacy-focused AI assistant on WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, and more — powered by open-source models.

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What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent gateway that connects AI models to your favorite messaging platforms. By configuring TensorX as a custom provider, you can run powerful open-source models like GLM-5.1, MiniMax, and DeepSeek across all your chat channels.

Why OpenClaw + TensorX?

• 🔒 Privacy-first — Self-hosted gateway + EU-hosted models with zero data retention
• 💰 Cost-effective — 50–70% cheaper than Claude
• 📱 Multi-platform — WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Signal, and more
• 🤖 Multiple models — Choose from GLM-5.1, MiniMax, DeepSeek, Kimi, and others
• 🛡️ Secure — Pairing system prevents unauthorized access
• 🌐 Control UI — Browser dashboard for chat, config, and session management

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Prerequisites

• Node.js >= 22 (download here)
• macOS, Linux, or Windows (PowerShell installer available)
• A TensorX API key (sign up here)

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Installation

Step 1: Install OpenClaw

macOS / Linux / WSL2

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Windows (PowerShell)

npm

Verify installation:

openclaw --version

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Configuration

Step 2: Run the Onboarding Wizard

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The wizard guides you through auth, gateway settings, and optional channels. Accept the defaults to get started quickly.

Step 3: Configure TensorX as a Custom Provider

OpenClaw uses a JSON5 config file at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Add TensorX as a custom provider:

// ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
{
  models: {
    providers: {
      tensorx: {
        api: "openai-completions",
        baseUrl: "https://api.tensorx.ai/v1",
        apiKey: "${TENSORX_API_KEY}",
      }
    }
  },
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: "tensorx/z-ai/glm-5.1",
      models: {
        "tensorx/z-ai/glm-5.1": { alias: "glm" },
        "tensorx/deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3.1": { alias: "deepseek" },
        "tensorx/deepseek/deepseek-r1-0528": { alias: "r1" },
        "tensorx/minimax/minimax-m2.5": { alias: "minimax" },
        "tensorx/moonshotai/kimi-k2.5": { alias: "kimi" },
      }
    }
  }
}

Override the default base URL. OpenClaw points at api.z.ai out of the box. The baseUrl: "https://api.tensorx.ai/v1" line above overrides that default — make sure it is set so requests reach TensorX rather than the default endpoint.

Then set your API key in ~/.openclaw/.env:

echo 'TENSORX_API_KEY=your-tensorx-api-key-here' >> ~/.openclaw/.env

Important: Replace your-tensorx-api-key-here with your actual TensorX API key from app.tensorx.ai.

Step 4: Restart the Gateway

openclaw gateway restart

Step 5: Verify Setup

# Check gateway status
openclaw gateway status

# Open the Control UI in your browser
openclaw dashboard

The Control UI opens at http://127.0.0.1:18789/. Send a test message to verify the connection.

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Recommended Models

OpenClaw works with all TensorX models. Switch models in chat with /model <alias> or update agents.defaults.model in config.

Model	Alias	Best For
z-ai/glm-5.1 ⭐	glm	Coding, reasoning, general use
minimax/minimax-m2.5	minimax	Reasoning, function calling
moonshotai/kimi-k2.5	kimi	Vision, long context
minimax/minimax-m2	—	Fast responses, cost-sensitive
deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3.1	deepseek	General chat, balanced
deepseek/deepseek-r1-0528	r1	Complex reasoning tasks

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Adding Chat Channels

OpenClaw supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Signal, Google Chat, Mattermost, MS Teams, IRC, and more.

WhatsApp

openclaw channels login

Scan the QR code in WhatsApp → Settings → Linked Devices, then approve the pairing:

openclaw pairing approve whatsapp WA-XXXXX

Telegram

1. Create a bot via @BotFather and copy the bot token
2. Add to ~/.openclaw/.env:

   TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11

3. Restart and approve pairing:

   openclaw gateway restart
   openclaw pairing approve telegram TG-XXXXX

Discord

1. Create a bot at the Discord Developer Portal and copy the token
2. Add to ~/.openclaw/.env:

   DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN=your_discord_bot_token_here

3. Restart the gateway:

   openclaw gateway restart

See the OpenClaw channels documentation for setup guides for all supported platforms.

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Multi-Agent Routing

Run multiple agents with different models for different purposes:

// ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
{
  agents: {
    list: [
      { id: "coder", model: "tensorx/z-ai/glm-5.1", default: true },
      { id: "thinker", model: "tensorx/deepseek/deepseek-r1-0528" },
    ],
    defaults: {
      // ... provider config from above
    }
  },
  bindings: [
    { match: { channel: "telegram" }, agent: "thinker" },
    { match: { channel: "whatsapp" }, agent: "coder" },
  ]
}

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Common Commands

# Gateway
openclaw gateway status           # Check status
openclaw gateway start            # Start gateway
openclaw gateway stop             # Stop gateway
openclaw gateway restart          # Restart gateway
openclaw dashboard                # Open Control UI
openclaw doctor                   # Diagnose issues

# Channels & Pairing
openclaw channels login                       # Connect a channel
openclaw pairing list                         # List pending pairings
openclaw pairing approve <channel> <code>     # Approve pairing

# Configuration
openclaw configure                # Interactive config wizard
openclaw config get <key>         # Read a config value
openclaw config set <key> <val>   # Set a config value

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Troubleshooting

Gateway Won't Start

# Check if the port is in use
lsof -i :18789

# Run diagnostics
openclaw doctor

No Response from Model

1. Verify your TensorX API key works:

   curl https://api.tensorx.ai/v1/models \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TENSORX_KEY"

2. Check your config for typos:

   openclaw config get models.providers.tensorx

3. Restart the gateway:

   openclaw gateway restart

Channel Not Working

# Check gateway logs
openclaw logs

# Verify channel status
openclaw channels status

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Cost Optimization

Use Case	Recommended Model	Why
Simple questions	minimax/minimax-m2	Fast and cheap
Coding tasks	z-ai/glm-5.1	Best coding performance
Deep reasoning	deepseek/deepseek-r1-0528	Worth the cost for complex problems
General chat	deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3.1	Balanced performance and cost
Vision tasks	moonshotai/kimi-k2.5	Image understanding, long context

Use OpenClaw's pairing system to prevent unauthorized usage that would consume your credits.

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Resources

• OpenClaw Documentation: docs.openclaw.ai
• OpenClaw GitHub: github.com/openclaw/openclaw
• TensorX Models: tensorx.ai/models
• TensorX Dashboard: app.tensorx.ai

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FAQ

Q: Do I need an Anthropic or OpenAI account?

No! TensorX provides all the models you need. You only need a TensorX API key.

Q: Can I switch between models on the fly?

Yes! Use /model <alias> in any chat to switch models mid-conversation (e.g., /model r1 for reasoning tasks).

Q: Can I switch back to Claude or another provider later?

Yes. Update the models.providers section in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json to point to a different provider, or add multiple providers and switch between them.

Q: Which model should I start with?

We recommend z-ai/glm-5.1 for most use cases. It offers excellent coding capabilities, strong reasoning, and good general performance.

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Need help? Contact [e-mail] or check the OpenClaw documentation.