Concerns arising from the "shrimp farming" craze

In early March 2026, the phrase "shrimp farming" unexpectedly went viral on Chinese social media. This wasn't about agriculture; it was a humorous way for netizens to refer to the use of OpenClaw – an open-source artificial intelligence (AI) agent with a lobster icon.

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•28/03/2026

In a short period of time, this trend has attracted significant attention from the tech community, quickly spreading to many countries, including Vietnam.

In essence, OpenClaw is not a standalone application, but rather an AI system capable of connecting with many large language models. This allows users to "assign tasks" to the computer, enabling it to automatically perform a range of tasks such as file management, browser operations, data collection, spreadsheet creation, or source code editing. With this mechanism, a personal computer can function as a "digital employee," working continuously 24 hours a day.

What makes it special, and what the online community jokingly calls "raising shrimp," lies in the interactive experience. Users not only use but also "train" the AI by establishing habits, requests, and communication styles. The system remembers this information as data (like memory files), thereby adjusting its responses and task processing over time. This process creates the feeling that the AI is gradually "maturing," becoming increasingly suitable to the user's personalized needs.

In Vietnam, this trend has quickly gained popularity among young people. Numerous articles and videos sharing experiences in "shrimp farming" have appeared on social media platforms, attracting significant interaction. Notably, several online courses are also being heavily promoted, with tuition fees ranging from 9 to over 11 million VND, promising to help learners... "farm shrimp".

However, alongside its potential, this trend also raises several issues that need attention. Operating AI agents like OpenClaw requires users to grant deep access to computer systems, including personal data, work history, and usage behavior. Without proper control, the risk of information leakage or data exploitation is entirely possible. "Shrimp farming" is an interesting experience in the AI age, but sustainable value only comes when users master the technology.

OCEAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/noi-lo-tu-con-sot-nuoi-tom-post845078.html