How to Set Up Your Own AI Assistant in 30 Minutes

No coding required. Just follow these steps and you'll have your personal AI assistant running by the end of this article.

What You'll Build

In 30 minutes, you'll have:

• An AI assistant that runs 24/7
• Access from your phone via Telegram
• Memory that persists across conversations
• Ability to set reminders and draft messages

Let's go.

Minute 0-5: Get Your API Key

Your AI assistant needs access to an AI model. We'll use Claude.

1. Go to console.anthropic.com
2. Create an account (use Google or email)
3. Add a payment method under Billing
4. Add $10 in credits (enough for weeks of personal use)
5. Go to API Keys → Create Key → Name it "OpenClaw"
6. Copy the key and save it somewhere — you'll need it soon

Minute 5-10: Install OpenClaw

Mac Users

Open Terminal and run:

brew install openclaw/tap/openclaw

Done.

Windows Users

1. Install Node.js from nodejs.org
2. Open PowerShell
3. Run: npm install -g openclaw

Linux Users

npm install -g openclaw

Verify Installation

Run:

openclaw --version

You should see a version number.

Minute 10-15: Configure OpenClaw

Initialize your setup:

openclaw init

This creates ~/.openclaw/ with default configuration.

Now add your API key. Open ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json in any text editor:

# Mac
open ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

# Windows
notepad %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw\openclaw.json

# Linux
nano ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Find the model section and add your key:

{
  "model": {
    "provider": "anthropic",
    "apiKey": "sk-ant-YOUR-KEY-HERE"
  }
}

Save the file.

Minute 15-20: Create a Telegram Bot

This lets you chat with your AI from your phone.

1. Open Telegram
2. Search for @BotFather
3. Send /newbot
4. Choose a name: "My AI Assistant"
5. Choose a username ending in bot: myai_assistant_bot
6. Copy the API token BotFather gives you

Now add it to your config. Edit ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "model": {
    "provider": "anthropic",
    "apiKey": "sk-ant-YOUR-KEY-HERE"
  },
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "botToken": "YOUR-TELEGRAM-BOT-TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Minute 20-25: Start Your AI

Run:

openclaw

You should see:

OpenClaw started
Telegram channel connected

Open Telegram, find your bot, and send "Hello!"

Did you get a response? Congratulations — your AI assistant is alive!

Minute 25-30: Personalize It

Create a file to tell your AI about yourself:

Create ~/.openclaw/USER.md:

# About Me

Name: [Your name]
Location: [Your city]
Timezone: [Your timezone]

# Preferences

- Keep responses concise
- Use bullet points for lists
- Be direct and practical

Try it out:

• "What time is it?" (should answer in your timezone)
• "Set a reminder for tomorrow at 9am to call mom"
• "What did I tell you my name is?"

You Did It!

In 30 minutes, you built a personal AI assistant that:

• Runs on your computer
• Is accessible via Telegram anywhere
• Remembers who you are
• Can set reminders and more

What's Next?

Keep It Running

Your assistant stops when you close Terminal. For 24/7 operation:

Mac:

screen -S openclaw
openclaw
# Press Ctrl+A, then D to detach

Or with PM2:

npm install -g pm2
pm2 start openclaw
pm2 startup
pm2 save

Add More Features

• WhatsApp: Add another channel for redundancy
• Calendar: Connect Google Calendar for scheduling
• Email: Enable email drafting and triage
• Web browsing: Let your AI search the web

Expand Your Memory

Add to USER.md over time:

• Important contacts
• Ongoing projects
• Preferences you discover
• Information to remember

Join the Community

• Explore the OpenClaw subreddit
• Join the Discord for help
• Check GitHub for skills and plugins

Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding

1. Check OpenClaw is running (look for output in Terminal)
2. Verify your Telegram bot token is correct
3. Make sure you're messaging the right bot

API Errors

1. Check your Anthropic credits aren't exhausted
2. Verify your API key is correct
3. Check your internet connection

Installation Failed

1. Ensure Node.js is installed: node --version
2. Try reinstalling: npm install -g openclaw --force

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