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Why Chinese Companies Are Suddenly Uninstalling OpenClaw, the Free Open-Source AI Agent — episode cover art
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Why Chinese Companies Are Suddenly Uninstalling OpenClaw, the Free Open-Source AI Agent

About this story

Why Baidu, Tencent, and WeChat-era firms are uninstalling OpenClaw — server costs, code security, and competitor risk. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.

This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 8 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 10 key vocabulary words such as 卸载、开源、代码 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.

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原文

Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.

最近很多都在讨论一个奥本软件
它是一个免费人工智能助手
可是中国很多公司最近突然开始这个软件
就是电脑彻底删掉
为什么大家都不想用
其实是一个非常有趣值得研究问题
我们看看奥本到底是什么
过去一年人工智能技术非常
奥本就是其中一个很有程序
最大特点就是免费
意思任何人都可以看到它的代码
不但可以免费下载可以自己修改
因为这个原因开始很多中国公司使用
大家觉得既然是免费为什么不用
程序代码也能经理整理数据
工作速度普通很多
所以几个中国非常受欢迎
但是情况最近发生很大改变
很多发现这个软件其实没有那么好用
一个原因网络系统问题
虽然这个软件本身免费
但是需要连接国外网络才能工作
我们知道中国使用国外网络不太方便
很多时候网络速度非常甚至断开
如果网络不好这个软件就不能正常工作
时候一段简单代码
可能需要十分钟才能结果
这样工作效率变得更低
大家觉得麻烦所以放弃
大家使用人工智能就是为了减少工作时间
如果没有价值
第二个重要原因信息安全问题
很多公司来说数据信息就是生命
奥本工作时候需要很多数据
如果分析公司财务情况
必须公司财务数据
因为它的服务国外非常危险
公司老板担心这些重要信息别人看到
如果公司秘密竞争对手发现结果严重
比如你们公司计划下个月推出一个产品
这个软件一份详细计划
那么这个软件知道你们所有计划
如果这些信息不小心到了网上
别的公司可以提前准备你们客人
为了保护公司安全经理决定不再使用
他们要求所有员工这个软件电脑删掉
一种保护自己办法
现在很多公司都有严格规定
禁止员工公司文件国外网络
也是为了防止信息别人偷走
第三个原因使用习惯语言问题
奥本西方发明软件
所以它的英语非常但是中文不太
中国人中文安排任务时候
经常听不懂或者理解错误
比如一个符合中国市场广告
出来东西中国人觉得很奇怪
了解中国文化也不了解中国人习惯
很多使用者感到非常失望
既然不能很好理解中文大家不想
第四原因中国自己人工智能发展很快
现在中国国内也有很多优秀人工智能软件
很多公司比如百度推出自己产品
这些国内软件不但聪明而且非常了解中国
它们中文知道中国人工作习惯
比如中国人喜欢沟通
国内软件可以直接连接起来
这样大家使用时候觉得非常方便
重要的是它们服务都在中国国内
所以使用这些国内软件非常安全
网络速度很快不会出现连接不上情况
既然有了更好选择大家当然新的软件
就像手机一样
如果有便宜更好手机肯定
最后大家发现免费其实是一个麻烦
虽然下载奥本不需要花钱
但是电脑顺利运行需要很高条件
不仅需要非常好的电脑设备
而且工作时候需要其他收费程序
每一这些程序需要一点
虽然每一很少但是一天下来贵了
算下来其实一个国内软件
很多省钱公司觉得很后悔
大家以为软件公司减少成本
实际公司带来更大经济压力
不仅是压力还有时间压力
因为它是所以经常出现各种错误
公司必须安排专门工程检查修理
需要很多时间精力管理
因为这些原因大家这个软件态度改变
从一开始激动欢迎变成现在拒绝
很多科技新闻报道这种现象
记者采访一些程序公司经理
他们表示放弃这个软件一个正确决定
商业世界效率安全永远是重要
如果一个工具不能提高效率没有价值
人工智能技术每天都在进步每天都有新的发明
今天流行软件明天可能大家放弃
也是科技发展一个正常过程
奥本中国经历我们很多教训
告诉我们一个好用技术不仅优秀
适应当地环境满足当地人的需求
如果考虑这些具体情况再好技术失败
现在中国公司正在积极开发自己智能助手
他们更多投资自己技术
他们希望未来能有完全属于中国人工智能
不仅是为了安全也是为了国际上有竞争
虽然这个过程可能遇到很多困难
但是大家未来发展还是充满信心
科技发展就像马拉比赛
谁能最后现在
不过一点肯定竞争技术变得更好
对于普通来说其实是一件好事
因为我们可以用到方便聪明工具
不管是什么名字软件只要好用
未来几年人工智能继续改变我们生活
English transcript reference

Recently, many people have been discussing a piece of software called "OpenClaw."

It is a free artificial intelligence assistant.

However, many Chinese companies have recently started suddenly uninstalling this software.

Uninstalling means completely deleting it from the computer.

Why does nobody want to use it anymore?

This is actually a very interesting and worthy question to study.

Let's first take a look at what "OpenClaw" really is.

Over the past year, artificial intelligence technology has been extremely hot.

"OpenClaw" is one of the most well-known programs among them.

Its biggest feature is that it's free and open-source.

Open-source means that anyone can see its code.

Not only can you download it for free, but you can also modify it yourself.

Because of this, many Chinese companies used it in the beginning.

Everyone thought, since it's free, why not use it?

It can help programmers write code and help managers organize data.

It works many times faster than an ordinary person.

So, a few months ago, it was very popular in China.

But recently, the situation has changed dramatically.

Many people discovered that this software wasn't actually that easy to use.

The first reason is network and system issues.

Although the software itself is free,

it needs to connect to overseas networks to work.

We all know that using overseas networks in China is not very convenient.

Many times, the network speed is very slow, or it even disconnects.

If the network is bad, the software cannot work properly.

Sometimes, you ask it to help you write a simple piece of code.

It might need to wait ten minutes before giving you a result.

As a result, work efficiency actually becomes lower.

Everyone felt this was too troublesome, so they gave up on it.

The whole point of people using AI is to reduce working time.

If it's even slower than a person, then it has no value.

The second important reason is the issue of information security.

For many large companies, data and information are their lifeblood.

When "OpenClaw" is working, it needs a lot of data.

If you ask it to help you analyze the company's financial situation,

you have to send the company's financial data to it.

Because its servers are overseas, this is very dangerous.

Company bosses worry that this important information could be seen by others.

If the company's secrets are discovered by competitors, the consequences are very serious.

For example, your company is planning to launch a new product next month.

You ask this software to help you write a detailed plan.

Then this software knows all of your plans.

If this information is accidentally posted online,

other companies can prepare in advance and steal your customers.

To protect the company's security, managers have decided to stop using it.

They require all employees to delete this software from their computers.

This is a way to protect themselves.

Now many large companies have strict regulations.

They prohibit employees from uploading company files to overseas networks.

This is also to prevent information from being stolen by others.

The third reason is the issue of usage habits and language.

"OpenClaw" is software invented by Westerners.

So its English is very good, but its Chinese is not so great.

When Chinese people give it tasks in Chinese,

it often doesn't understand, or misinterprets them.

For example, you ask it to write an advertisement suited for the Chinese market.

What it produces, Chinese people find very strange.

It doesn't understand Chinese culture, nor does it understand Chinese people's habits.

This made many users feel very disappointed.

Since it can't understand Chinese well, people don't want to use it.

The fourth reason is that China's own AI has been developing very quickly.

Now, within China, there are many excellent AI software programs.

Many large companies, such as Baidu and Tencent, have launched their own products.

These domestic software programs are not only smart but also very knowledgeable about China.

They understand Chinese and know Chinese people's work habits.

For example, Chinese people like to communicate using WeChat.

Domestic software can directly connect with WeChat.

This makes it feel very convenient for everyone when they use it.

More importantly, their servers are all located within China.

So using these domestic software programs is very safe.

The network speed is also very fast, with no connectivity issues.

Since there's a better choice available, people will naturally switch to new software.

It's just like buying a phone.

If there's a cheaper and better phone, you'll definitely switch.

Finally, everyone discovered that "free" is actually a big headache.

Although downloading "OpenClaw" doesn't cost any money,

to get it running smoothly on a computer requires very high specifications.

It not only needs very good computer equipment,

but also, when it's working, it needs to call other paid programs.

Each time it calls these programs, you have to pay a little money.

Although the cost is small each time, over a whole day it adds up to a lot.

When you do the math, the monthly cost is actually more than buying a domestic software license.

This made many companies that wanted to save money feel very regretful.

Everyone thought open-source software could help companies reduce costs.

In reality, it brought even greater financial pressure to companies.

It's not just financial pressure, but also time pressure.

Because it's open-source, various errors frequently appear.

Companies must assign dedicated engineers to check and fix it.

This also requires a lot of time and effort to manage.

Because of all these reasons, people's attitude toward this software has changed.

From the initial excitement and welcome, it has turned to rejection.

Many tech news outlets have also reported on this phenomenon.

Reporters interviewed some programmers and company managers.

They all said that giving up this software was the right decision.

In the business world, efficiency and security are always the most important things.

If a tool cannot improve efficiency, then it has no value.

AI technology is making progress every day, with new inventions appearing daily.

Software that is popular today might be abandoned by everyone tomorrow.

This is also a normal part of the process of technological development.

"OpenClaw's" experience in China has given us many lessons.

It tells us that a useful technology must not only be excellent,

but must also adapt to the local environment and meet local people's needs.

If these specific conditions are not considered, even the best technology will fail.

Now, Chinese companies are actively developing their own intelligent assistants.

They are investing more money in their own technology.

They hope that in the future there will be AI that completely belongs to China.

This is not only for security but also for international competitiveness.

Although this process may encounter many difficulties,

everyone remains confident about future development.

The development of technology is like a marathon race.

Who will have the last laugh is still hard to say for now.

But one thing is certain: competition will make technology better.

For ordinary people, this is actually a good thing.

Because we get to use more convenient and smarter tools.

No matter what the software is called, as long as it works well, that's what matters.

In the coming years, AI will continue to change our lives.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
xiè zǎito uninstall

To remove software from a computer or device. 卸 (unload) + 载 (carry/load).

kāi yuánopen-source

Software whose source code is publicly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute.

dài mǎcode (programming)

Instructions written in a programming language. A fundamental term in tech vocabulary.

fú wù qìserver

A computer that provides data or services to other computers over a network.

jìng zhēng duì shǒucompetitor; rival

A person or company competing against you in the same market or field.

xiào lǜefficiency

The ratio of useful output to total input. How well resources are used to achieve goals.

chéng běncost

The total expense required to produce or acquire something. A key business term.

tóu zīinvestment; to invest

Putting money or resources into something with the expectation of returns.

shì yìngto adapt; to adjust to

To change or modify oneself to fit new conditions or environments.

diào yòngto call; to invoke (a program)

A technical term meaning to request the execution of a function or external service in computing.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法

虽然...但是... (suī rán... dàn shì...)

The standard concessive structure meaning "although... but..." In Chinese, both halves are typically stated, unlike English where "but" would suffice after "although."

虽然这个软件本身是免费的,但是它需要连接国外的网络才能工作。

虽然每一次的钱很少,但是一天下来就很贵了。

不但...还/而且... (bù dàn... hái/ér qiě...)

Means "not only... but also..." Used to add additional information that goes beyond the first point, often escalating in significance.

你不但可以免费下载它,还可以自己修改它。

这些国内的软件不但很聪明,而且非常了解中国。

既然...就... (jì rán... jiù...)

Means "since/given that... then..." Used when the first clause states an established fact, and the second clause draws a natural conclusion.

既然是免费的,为什么不用呢?

既然有了更好的选择,大家当然会换新的软件。

如果...就... (rú guǒ... jiù...)

The standard conditional structure meaning "if... then..." Used for hypothetical situations and their consequences.

如果网络不好,这个软件就不能正常工作。

如果不考虑这些具体的情况,再好的技术也会失败。

Proper Nouns

专有名词
奥本克劳Ào běn kè láoOpenClaw (fictional open-source AI assistant)百度Bǎi dùBaidu (Chinese tech company)腾讯Téng xùnTencent (Chinese tech company)微信Wēi xìnWeChat (messaging app)

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