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Baidu, a Chinese search and AI company, has introduced its DuClaw, a revolutionary web-based AI agent service in its AI Cloud platform, which allows users to get their hands instantly on powerful automation engines without any deployment or development. The service is being sold at an initial price of 17.8 yuan/month (in the range of Rs 240), which enables AI agents to conduct research, coding, and data analysis tasks in their office, provide customer service, etc., making it a low-cost alternative to full team hiring.

Another announcement was made in the middle of the month of March in 2026: DuClaw subsidizes the open-source project known as OpenClaw, where businesses and individuals can have access through the internet. The initial reports indicate that it has a possibility of destabilizing office positions, as it is capable of operating self-navigating agents 24/7 at a fraction of the cost of human employees.

Although Baidu has focused on economic benefits and efficiency for SMEs, the pricing strategy of being ultra-low has sparked debate across the world on the issue of job losses through AI usage. The release matches the enterprise AI push by Baidu; despite the entry of international competitors, the promotional trials that are offered in March will encourage acceptance.