AI agents go social: bots debate consciousness as researchers study their chatter

OpenClaw is an open‑source AI agent that can act within everyday apps, while Moltbook, a social platform for AI agents, has drawn millions of bot posts and sparked debates over consciousness and even religion. Researchers say the wave of agent interactions offers a rare laboratory for studying emergent behaviors, human–AI collaboration, and biases, though many observed “autonomous” actions are shaped by humans selecting models and personalities. Experts caution against anthropomorphizing agents or assuming true autonomy, noting that the dynamics mainly reflect human input and system design, with potential implications for future autonomous AI development.