<div id="readability-page-1">The OpenClaw craze is rapidly driving up prices and depleting stock of Apple’s Mac Mini compact computer across China, according to local sellers, as consumers scramble to secure machines capable of safely running the open-source artificial intelligence agent amid a nationwide rush to “raise a lobster”. Beijing electronics seller Frank Chai said he was asking for a mark-up of at least 500 yuan (US$73) for a basic Mac Mini model, which comes with 16 gigabytes (GB) of memory and 256GB storage and normally sells for 4,499 yuan. Chai, who runs a private shop in Beijing’s Zhongguancun area, said on Friday that he had a few units available. Meanwhile, the wait time for the same model at the official Apple Store had expanded to at least a month. The Mac Mini’s sudden surge in popularity comes amid a national obsession for OpenClaw, an autonomous AI tool. The Apple device, with its affordable price and robust performance, has emerged as an ideal dedicated machine for running OpenClaw and other AI agents, allowing users to leverage its capabilities while minimising security and privacy risks. Among the most affordable personal computers from the US tech company, the Mac Mini was also selling out rapidly in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, home to the world’s largest electronics wholesale market, according to a Friday report by state-owned Securities Times. Many vendors had run out of stock, while the few who still had units were charging mark-ups of several hundred yuan, the report said. Running OpenClaw – a trend dubbed “raising a lobster” in reference to the tool’s marketing mascot – was best done on a dedicated computer due to the software’s design, according to industry experts. The AI agent earned rapid adoption for its ability to work tirelessly on behalf of users, but it requires high-level system permissions to perform many of its tricks. If these permissions were improperly configured on a machine that also held personal data, they could lead to serious issues, according to Wang Liejun, a security expert at Chinese cybersecurity firm Qi An Xin. Moreover, OpenClaw was designed as a “framework” to tap various “skills” created by third-party developers, such as carrying out online searches, organising events or replying to emails. But many of the skills in circulation contained malicious code to steal data, Wang said. China’s cybersecurity authority has issued warnings, best practices and prohibitions for OpenClaw, with one rule suggesting early adopters run the agent on a spare, dedicated device rather than their primary computer to mitigate privacy risks.  Some banks, securities firms, state-owned enterprises and high schools have also forbidden their employees from installing OpenClaw on work computers. Shen Bo, CEO of Codoon, a social fitness-tracking app, was one of many local consumers who snapped up Mac Minis to run OpenClaw. Shen said that he had already deployed more than 10 lobsters on three Mac Minis, which he described as “the most cost-effective option, while keeping data relatively secure locally and making automation easier”. “I think it’s boosted my productivity tenfold,” Shen said. </div>

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<p>The OpenClaw craze is causing a surge in demand for Apple’s Mac Mini in China, leading to stock shortages and price mark-ups. Local sellers report a minimum increase of 500 yuan (US$73) for the basic model, which typically retails for 4,499 yuan. The Mac Mini is favored for running OpenClaw, an AI tool, due to its affordability and performance. Many vendors are out of stock, and the wait time at official Apple Stores has extended to over a month. Experts recommend using a dedicated device for OpenClaw to mitigate privacy risks.</p>

Apple’s Mac Mini selling out across China as OpenClaw fever rages