Hermes Agent vs. OpenClaw: The Big Comparison and More AI News
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Hello, this weekly newsletter guides you through the most important new videos from a curated selection of AI and Coding YouTube channels. One compact summary per video, plus a daily overview of the dominant topics. If interested, simply click the link below the summary.
This week was marked by an intense comparison between the AI agents Hermes and OpenClaw. Multiple videos from Alex Finn and Leon van Zyl focused on this topic, with Hermes emerging as the superior alternative to OpenClaw due to its reliability, self-improvement capabilities, and user-friendliness. The discussions included detailed tests and use cases that highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both agents.
Beyond the agent battle, there were also in-depth insights into using open-source tools and local models. Leon van Zyl demonstrated how to use Hermes Agent as a coding agent to create web apps and deploy them online. Additionally, tools like OpenCode and Honeyfree were introduced, which enable autonomous planning and implementation of software projects. These tools use free AI models, significantly increasing accessibility and development efficiency.
Another central topic was the security of open-source packages. A video reported on a serious supply-chain attack on npm packages, underscoring the importance of security measures like PNPM. These discussions highlighted the growing significance of security and reliability in the AI and open-source community.
Overall, the week was characterized by intense comparisons, practical applications, and important security discussions that reflect the dynamics and challenges of current AI development.
Niklas Steenfatt
No new videos in this period.
Fireship (2 new videos)
- Every operating system concept in one video…
7.5.2026, 17:32:34The video explains in detail how an operating system works from the moment the power button is pressed until shutdown. It starts with the bootloader, which loads the operating system, then moves on to privilege rings, which separate the kernel’s and applications’ permissions. Virtual memory is described as a system that allows multiple applications to run in parallel without interfering with each other. The kernel sets up the file system, loads device drivers, and enables interrupts, which allow the system to respond to input. The kernel then starts the first process (PID1), which is the ancestor of all other processes. System calls enable applications to communicate with the kernel, and the scheduler manages CPU time for the many processes. Threads allow applications to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and interprocess communication (IPC) enables different processes to communicate safely. Finally, the shutdown process is described, where all processes are terminated and the system shuts down safely.
The video covers operating systems in general and their components without mentioning specific tools or vendors, and is better suited for intermediate or advanced viewers.
- 732 bytes of Python just borked every Linux machine on earth…
4.5.2026, 18:40:40The video covers a critical security vulnerability in the Linux kernel, referred to as “copy fail” (CVE-2023-31431), which has existed since 2017 and was discovered by an AI tool. The vulnerability allows a local user to gain root access by writing four bytes to the page cache of a read-only file. All Linux distributions updated after 2017 are affected. The vulnerability was exploited through a Python script that uses the ONC ESN protocol and the AF_AGL interface. Although the vulnerability is not remotely exploitable, it is strongly recommended to update systems. The video also mentions the role of AI in discovering security vulnerabilities and advertises Code Rabbit, an AI tool for improving code quality.
The video explicitly covers AI tools such as the AI agent tool used by Theori and Code Rabbit, and is intended for intermediate to advanced users.
Alex Finn (8 new videos)
- LIVE: The greatest Claude Code workflow ever
13.5.2026, 20:12:33The video demonstrates a detailed, advanced workflow for Claude Code that integrates various tools such as Slack, Linear, GitHub, and Claude Code. The host explains how these tools work together to boost productivity, track changes, and organize development. The workflow includes creating tasks and projects in Linear, linking them with GitHub for branch management, and using Claude Code for automating and managing these processes. The host emphasizes the benefits of this workflow, including increased speed, better error prevention, and improved traceability.
Additionally, the host discusses personal experiences and challenges, such as dealing with difficult times and the importance of perseverance. He also shares his thoughts on using AI tools like Claude Code and Codex, as well as their differences and use cases.
The video is designed for advanced users who already have experience with Claude Code and similar tools and want to optimize their workflows. Specific tools such as Claude, OpenAI, and Linear are discussed.
- Hermes Agent powered by local models on the DGX Spark is basically magic
13.5.2026, 13:30:07The video shows how to set up a Hermes Agent on a local model on an Nvidia DGX Spark to create a 24/7 available AI employee. The process includes setting up the DGX Spark in headless mode, installing a local model (Qwen 3.6 27B), and integrating the model into the Hermes Agent. The creator demonstrates three use cases: a daily report on AI stocks for beginners, repurposing YouTube video content for advanced users, and vibe-coding a to-do list app for advanced users. The focus is on the benefits of local models, such as being cost-free (aside from electricity), privacy, customizability, and educational value.
Closing comment: The video explicitly addresses Nvidia DGX Spark, Hermes Agent, Qwen 3.6 27B, and Tail Scale and is designed for intermediate to advanced users.
- LIVE: Talking AI news (no Hermes use cases ignore the thumbnail)
11.5.2026, 20:11:47The video is a live-stream session that mainly revolves around discussing Hermes Agent and its use cases. The host, Alex Finn, begins with an introduction to Hermes Agent and emphasizes the importance of use cases for using the technology. He mentions that Hermes has released a new website with hundreds of use cases that he and the viewers will go through and test.
However, a large part of the video is taken up by various tangents and discussions, including:
1. **Investment Corner**: Alex talks about current investment opportunities in the AI industry, particularly in companies like Nvidia, Micron, TSMC, and Tesla. He emphasizes the importance of current AI developments and the need to invest in the right companies.
2. **Personal Stories and Anecdotes**: Alex shares personal stories and anecdotes that are often humorous and entertaining but not directly related to the main topic of the video.
3. **Interaction with Chat**: A large part of the video consists of interaction with the live chat, where Alex answers questions, makes comments, and engages with viewers.
4. **Use Cases for Hermes Agent**: Toward the end of the video, Alex begins to discuss some of the use cases from the new Hermes website. He mentions use cases such as creating research reports, managing tasks, and automating processes.
5. **Announcements and Updates**: Alex provides updates on his own projects and announcements, such as the launch of a second YouTube channel and participation in a Baby Keem concert.
**Closing comment**: The video explicitly addresses open-source AI models and tools such as Hermes Agent and OpenClaw. It is geared more toward intermediate to advanced users who already have some understanding of AI and its applications.
- Hermes Agent is blowing me away…
9.5.2026, 20:54:26The video compares the AI agents Hermes and OpenClaw and recommends Hermes due to reliability, self-improvement, and user-friendliness. The creator describes the advantages of Hermes, including regular, thematic updates, self-improving capability through use, and a strong emphasis on experimentation and local models. The installation of Hermes is described as simple, with options for different models and communication services, with Telegram and Opus being recommended. The creator showcases three use cases: one for beginners that discovers new AI tools daily, one for advanced users that performs daily proactive check-ins, and one for experts that creates AI-generated videos. At the end, the creator emphasizes the importance of brain-dumping and reverse-prompting to use the AI agent personally and effectively.
The video explicitly addresses the AI tools Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is geared more toward intermediate and advanced users.
- LIVE: Anthropic and Elon just teamed up to take down OpenAI
6.5.2026, 20:12:34The video discusses the strategic alliance between Anthropic and Elon Musk’s XAI (X.AI), characterized by a major computing power deal. Anthropic gains access to SpaceX’s Colossus-1 cluster, which will significantly enhance their ability to develop and train AI models. This partnership marks a turning point in competition with OpenAI, which has held a dominant position in recent months with Codex. Anthropic had struggled during this time with reduced limits and less powerful models, something the new alliance aims to address. Elon Musk, who was previously critical of Anthropic, now provides massive computing resources, changing the dynamics of AI competition. The video also discusses Elon Musk’s long-term strategies, where he may focus on bigger goals like autonomous vehicles, space travel, and robotics rather than staying in the AI chatbot competition. The alliance could lead to a new era of innovation and improvement in AI tools from which consumers will benefit. The video emphasizes the importance of using both leading AI tools, Claude Code and Codex, to benefit from their respective strengths.
**AI Tools/Models/Providers:** Anthropic, OpenAI, Elon Musk (X.AI), Claude, Codex, Grock, Gemini, Open-Source
**Target Audience:** Intermediate - Hermes Agent might have just killed OpenClaw
5.5.2026, 21:11:59The video presents Hermes Agent as a more reliable alternative to OpenClaw and covers seven new features that improve productivity and user-friendliness. These include:
1. **Kanban Board**: Enables multitasking through parallel processing of multiple task threads. A manager agent fills tasks with details and moves them through various statuses (Triage, To-Do, Ready, In Progress, Block, Done).
2. **Slashgo**: A high-level mission function that gives the agent long-term tasks that can be worked on over an extended period. The quality of the prompt is crucial for good results.
3. **Profiles (Multi-Agents)**: Allows the creation of multiple agents with their own memories and abilities to optimize performance and prevent overload.
4. **Model Catalog**: Simplifies switching and assigning models to specific tasks, improving cost control and efficiency.
5. **Compression**: By adjusting the compression threshold to 0.5, less drastic compressions are performed, improving memory capability.
6. **Curator Feature**: Automatic pruning of rarely used skills every seven days to reduce bloat and maintain performance.
The video criticizes OpenClaw for frequent updates that lead to instability and performance issues, and highlights Hermes’ targeted, reliable updates. It’s recommended to use Hermes’ new features to increase productivity.
**Closing comment**: The video explicitly addresses Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is geared more toward intermediate to advanced users.
- LIVE: Is Hermes better than OpenClaw? FINALE!!!
4.5.2026, 21:53:53The YouTube video shows a live stream where the host tests various AI agents (OpenClaw and Hermes) in a competition called “Agent Olympics”. The stream runs unusually long (3.5 hours) and is divided into various sections ranging from technical tests to personal discussions to spontaneous decisions.
**Content Summary:**
1. **Agent Olympics:**
– The host tests four combinations of AI agents (OpenClaw and Hermes with different backend models such as ChatGPT and Opus) in five different tasks.
– The tasks include creating infographics, animated music videos, and other complex tasks.
– Results are evaluated live, with OpenClaw with Opus emerging as the winner in the end.2. **Technical Discussions:**
– There are extensive discussions about the stability and reliability of the various AI agents, particularly Hermes, which is criticized for “compaction” errors (loss of work states).
– OpenClaw is praised for its consistency and user-friendliness.3. **Personal Topics:**
– The host discusses his sleep problems and experiments with various solutions like kiwis and magnesium.
– There are discussions about work methods, including the use of treadmills and standing desks, with the host expressing his preferences and dislikes.4. **Community Interaction:**
– Viewers are actively engaged in the chat, asking questions and providing feedback.
– The host spontaneously decides to create a second YouTube channel called “Alex Finn Labs”, leading to an entertaining interaction with a viewer who has already reserved the desired channel name.5. **Announcements and Future Plans:**
– The host announces that he will publish more videos about Hermes and multi-agent setups in the future.
– There is a discussion about whether live streams should take place at later times to reach a broader audience.**Closing comment:**
The video explicitly addresses the AI tools OpenClaw, Hermes, ChatGPT, and Opus. It is geared more toward intermediate and advanced users as it covers technical details and advanced applications of AI agents. - LIVE: OpenClaw vs Hermes Agent: The ultimate showdown
1.5.2026, 20:48:54The YouTube video shows a live stream where various AI agents are tested in a direct comparison. The main participants are OpenClaw and Hermes, each running with the models ChatGPT and Opus. The stream is divided into several tests that evaluate the capabilities of the agents in various task areas.
1. **Test 1: Real-time Stock Dashboard**
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Fastest completion, but with an unattractive user interface (UI). Functionality was rated as solid.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Slower and crashed the computer, resulting in a poor rating.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Slower than the ChatGPT version, but with a slightly better UI and additional features like TradingView integration.
– **Hermes with Opus**: Best UI and functionality, but slower than OpenClaw with ChatGPT.2. **Test 2: Game Development**
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Fast, but unplayable game.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Playable, but not particularly entertaining.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Unplayable and poor graphics.
– **Hermes with Opus**: Best graphics and playability, rated as actually entertaining.3. **Test 3: Website Recreation (Apple.com)**
– **Hermes with Opus**: First completion, but below-average accuracy.
– **OpenClaw with Opus**: Better than Hermes with Opus, but not perfect.
– **OpenClaw with ChatGPT**: Most accurate, nearly perfect.
– **Hermes with ChatGPT**: Perfect recreation through screenshots, but ethically questionable.The stream ends with Hermes with Opus in the lead, followed by OpenClaw with Opus and OpenClaw with ChatGPT. Hermes with ChatGPT lags significantly behind. The remaining tests will continue in the next live stream.
**Closing comment**: The video explicitly addresses the AI models Claude (Opus), OpenAI (ChatGPT), and specific tools such as OpenClaw and Hermes. It is geared more toward intermediate and advanced users interested in the performance and comparison of AI agents.
Leon van Zyl (8 new videos)
- Codex CLI Tutorial: Build an AI Image Studio from Scratch
11.5.2026, 11:17:21This video walks through building an AI image studio step-by-step for creating YouTube thumbnails, posters, banners, and other graphic content. The process starts with setting up a Next.js project using the Codec CLI tool, which is based on GPT-5.5 and high reasoning levels. A database is set up with Docker and Postgres, and necessary user authentication tables are migrated.
The focus is on creating a user-friendly interface that allows users to upload reference images, write prompts, and generate images. The developer leverages the Codec tool’s capabilities to design and test the interface while adhering to a predefined design system. After designing the interface, actual functionality is implemented using an OpenAI API key to access the GPT-4 Image model. The developer shows how to upload reference images and assets and generate thumbnails that combine these elements.
At the end, the interface is adjusted to ensure image generation only happens through the dashboard, not the homepage. The homepage is redesigned with a generated image and marketing text. The video emphasizes the efficiency and time savings from using Codec and OpenAI, while also noting the token limitations of the ChatGPT Plus plan.
The video explicitly covers OpenAI (GPT-5.5, GPT-4 Image model) and Codec. It’s geared toward intermediate and advanced users, as it covers advanced concepts like Docker, Postgres, Next.js, and API integration.
- Create Custom OpenCode Agents #Shorts #OpenCode #AICoding
10.5.2026, 07:00:16The video shows how to create custom agents in OpenCode. By default, there are two agents: “build” and “plan”. To create your own agent, you run the `open code agent create` command in the terminal. Then you provide a description of the agent, such as an agent named John that only responds with emojis. After creation, you can use the spacebar to define which functions or tools the agent can access. You also select the agent mode: either for primary and subordinate roles or only as a subordinate agent. The video demonstrates creating a subordinate agent named John and shows how the main agent delegates a task to John. You can track the subordinate agent’s work and see its reasoning and outputs. Finally, it emphasizes that this is just a demonstration and in practice you could use more specific system prompts and tool access for subordinate agents.
The video covers OpenCode and is suitable for intermediate users.
- OpenCode’s Best Hidden Feature #Shorts #OpenCode #AICoding
9.5.2026, 07:00:19The video explains how to set different models for different modes in open-source code. For example, you can use a powerful model like GPT-5 for planning mode and a fast, cost-effective model like Big Pickle for implementation mode (Bold Mode). Alternatively, you can use GPT-5.5 for planning but reduce the effort by selecting the “/variants” command with the “low effort” option. This allows intelligent planning from a powerful model while implementation is handled by a less capable but faster model.
The video covers open-source models and is geared toward intermediate users.
- I Turned Hermes Agent Into a Coding Agent
8.5.2026, 11:02:33The video shows how to use the Hermes Agent as a coding agent to build a web app and deploy it online. The process involves setting up the Hermes Agent on a VPS, integrating it with Telegram for communication, installing the Vercel CLI tool for deployment, and configuring the necessary skills for the agent. The creator tests whether the agent can create a personal portfolio page by scraping information from the creator’s YouTube channel and building an appealing frontend design. The agent successfully creates the app, deploys it to Vercel, and provides a public URL that opens the app in a browser. It’s also demonstrated that the agent can make changes to the app and automatically redeploy them.
The creator concludes that Hermes is suitable as a coding agent for simple tasks and quick dashboards, but not for complex software projects. The video explicitly covers Hermes Agent, OpenAI Codex, GPT 5.5, Vercel, and Telegram. It’s geared toward intermediate and advanced users.
- This free OpenCode trick saves thousands #opencode #aitools #hacks
7.5.2026, 13:38:39The video explains how to use free AI models for code generation in OpenCode. To do this, you first run the “connect” command and search for “OpenCode Zen” under providers. Then you generate an API key through a provided URL, which is free. After entering the API key, you get a list of supported models, including Big Pickle, HY3, Minimax M2.5, and Neurotron 3 Super from Nvidia. These models are powerful and completely free.
The video covers OpenCode and OpenCode Zen and is geared toward intermediate users.
- I Built a Coding Agent That Runs Locally for Free
6.5.2026, 12:25:00The video introduces the open-source tool “Honeyfree,” which enables autonomous planning and implementation of software projects. You describe to the tool what you want to build, and it plans features, adds them to a Kanban board, and implements them automatically. The tool supports various models like Alum Studio and Ollama and can break down complex tasks into smaller features. The user demonstrates creating a simple to-do app and shows how new features can be added and implemented. The video emphasizes that this is now possible with free models, which wasn’t the case a few months ago. It also explains how to download models like Qwen 3.6 or JML4 and use them in Alum Studio or Llama Studio. The user recommends increasing the context window length of models to at least 64,000 tokens for better performance. The video also shows how to install and set up Local Forge to create and manage projects. It’s emphasized that free models are good at writing code but benefit from more detailed instructions for better results. The user recommends using a paid model like Claude for feature planning while using free models for actual implementation. The video ends with an invitation to sign up for a masterclass course that teaches building applications with coding agents.
The video covers open-source models like Qwen 3.6 and JML4 as well as tools like Alum Studio, Llama Studio, and Local Forge. It’s geared toward intermediate and advanced users who already have experience using AI models and developing software.
- OpenCode Tutorial for Beginners: Setup, Agents, Skills & MCP
5.5.2026, 12:33:17This video is a tutorial showing how to build a Next.js application using Open Code, an open-source AI tool. The process starts with installing and setting up Open Code, including connecting to various AI models and providers, both free and paid. The tutorial demonstrates how to add agent capabilities like frontend design and Next.js skills to improve the quality of generated code. It also shows how to use memory files and design systems to increase consistency and efficiency of the agent. The tutorial continues with creating an application that lets users input a rough app idea and receive a detailed project plan. The agent uses subagents to execute tasks in parallel and protect the main context. At the end, the application is tested and improved, with the agent completely redesigning the UI and running automated tests. The video is suitable for intermediate and advanced users interested in AI-powered coding tools.
AI Tools/Models/Providers: Open Code (Open-Source), OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, BigPikko, HY3, Minimax, Nvidia, Vercel, Cintra AI.
- I Built a Full App Using Only Cursor AI
4.5.2026, 11:01:35This video develops an AI-powered YouTube summarizer using the Cursor tool. The process starts by creating a user interface that takes a YouTube URL and provides a video summary. Requirements include a brief summary (TLDR), five to eight key points, a “Watch these moments” section with timestamps and descriptions, and the original video link.
The creator uses Cursor and chooses the Composer 2 model to scaffold the project. Next.js and the Shad cn library are installed for the user interface. With Cursor’s agents, a basic user interface is created that meets the requirements. Then functionality is added to retrieve the transcript of a YouTube video using the YouTube Transcript API.
For AI-powered summarization, Cursor’s AI SDK is used to return structured data. The creator chooses the “anthropic/claude-2” model from OpenRouter and integrates the API key into a .env file. The agent then generates the summary, including the TLDR, key points, and recommended moments from the transcript.
The video explicitly covers the tools Cursor, Composer 2, Next.js, Shad cn, YouTube Transcript API, AI SDK, and OpenRouter. It’s geared toward intermediate and advanced users.
Leon van Zyl (1 new video)
- Claude Code Agent View: Parallel Agents Are Here
14.5.2026, 10:51:58The video introduces the new “Agent View” feature in Claude Code, which enables you to manage multiple Claude Code sessions simultaneously. Previously, running parallel sessions required opening multiple terminal windows, but this is now replaced by centralized control via Agent View. The feature allows you to start, manage, and monitor multiple background agents that perform various tasks such as logo creation, security audits, or automatic code improvements. Sessions can be navigated and controlled through the dispatcher view, and specific permission modes can also be set for agents. Additionally, the video demonstrates how Agent View can be combined with Git Worktrees to test and compare different variations of an application. The video is aimed at intermediate users and explicitly covers Claude Code and its new Agent View functionality.
Leon van Zyl (1 new video)
- Claude Code Agent View: Parallel Agents Are Here
14.5.2026, 10:51:58The video reports on a serious supply chain attack targeting open-source packages in the npm ecosystem, compromising over 100 packages with a combined download rate exceeding 50 million per week. The attack exploited a vulnerability in Tanstack’s release process when an attacker created a pull request on a fork of the repository that triggered the CI/CD workflow. By using the `pull_request_target` option in the GitHub Actions workflow, the attacker was able to inject malicious code into the CI server’s shared cache. This malware later leveraged a valid npm publish token to release compromised packages. The malware spread further by searching for additional npm publish tokens and using them to infect more packages. Affected companies included Mistral AI, UiPath, and Open Search. The malware deeply integrated itself into developer environments like VS Code and implemented a “dead man switch” that deleted the root directory of the affected system upon detection of remediation attempts.
To protect against such attacks, the video recommends using PNPM version 1 or higher, which offers features such as `minimum release age`, `block exotic subdependencies`, and `approved builds`. These features can help prevent malware spreading by blocking newly published packages, preventing exotic dependencies, and allowing installation scripts only for trusted packages. The video explicitly focuses on open-source tools and providers like npm, GitHub Actions, and PNPM, and is aimed at intermediate to advanced users.
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