Hermes Agent vs OpenClaw: The Ultimate Comparison and More AI Tools in Focus
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. Each video gets a compact summary, plus a daily overview of dominant topics. If interested, simply click the link under the summary.
This week was all about the comparison between AI agents Hermes and OpenClaw. Several videos from Alex Finn focused on this topic, with Hermes often emerging as the winner due to its reliability, self-improvement, and user-friendliness. The discussions centered on the stability and dependability of the agents, with Hermes praised for its targeted updates and OpenClaw for its consistency. Particularly exciting was the “Agent Olympics” competition, where various combinations of agents were tested with backend models like ChatGPT and Opus.
Another key topic was the strategic alliance between Anthropic and Elon Musk’s XAI, marked by a major computing power deal. This partnership could significantly change the dynamics of AI competition and lead to a new era of innovation. Security vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel, discovered by AI tools, were also discussed. This highlighted the role of AI in identifying and fixing security issues.
Beyond these main topics, there were also some outliers. Leon van Zyl demonstrated how to use the Hermes Agent as a coding agent to build and deploy a web app online. He also showed how to use free AI models in OpenCode for code creation. These videos offered practical insights into using AI tools for concrete projects.
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 builds the file system, loads device drivers, and enables interrupts, which allow the system to respond to inputs. 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 inter-process communication (IPC) enables different processes to communicate securely. Finally, the shutdown process is described, where all processes are terminated and the system is safely shut down.
The video covers operating systems and their components in general, without mentioning specific tools or vendors, and is more 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 promotes 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 like 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 leveraging Claude Code for automating and managing these processes. The host emphasizes the benefits of this workflow, such as 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 intended 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 (Quen 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 free (aside from electricity costs), privacy, customizability, and educational value.
Final comment: The video specifically addresses Nvidia DGX Spark, Hermes Agent, Quen 3.6 27B, and Tail Scale and is intended 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 primarily 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 leveraging 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 portion of the video is taken up by various tangents and discussions, including:
1. **Investment Corner**: Alex discusses 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. **Chat Interaction**: A large portion of the video consists of interaction with the live chat, with Alex answering questions, making comments, and engaging with viewers.
4. **Hermes Agent Use Cases**: Towards the end of the video, Alex begins discussing 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 launching a second YouTube channel and attending a Baby Keem concert.
**Final Comment**: The video specifically addresses open-source AI models and tools like Hermes Agent and OpenClaw. It is better suited for 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 author describes the benefits of Hermes, including regular, thematic updates, a self-improving capability through usage, and a strong emphasis on experimentation and local models. Installing Hermes is described as simple, with options for various models and communication services, with Telegram and Opus recommended. The author 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 author emphasizes the importance of brain-dumping and reverse-prompting to use the AI agent personally and effectively.
The video specifically addresses the AI tools Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is better suited for intermediate and advanced users.
- LIVE: Anthropic and Elon just teamed up to take down OpenAI
6.5.2026, 20:12:34The video covers the strategic alliance between Anthropic and Elon Musk’s XAI (X.AI), characterized by a major compute 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. During this time, Anthropic struggled with reduced limits and less capable models, which the new alliance aims to address. Elon Musk, who was previously critical of Anthropic, now provides massive computational resources, shifting the dynamics of AI competition. The video also discusses Elon Musk’s long-term strategies, which may focus on larger goals like autonomous vehicles, space travel, and robotics rather than remaining in the AI chatbot competition. The alliance could usher in a new era of innovation and improvement of 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 discusses seven new features that improve productivity and user-friendliness. These include:
1. **Kanban Board**: Enables multitasking by processing multiple task threads in parallel. 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 assigns long-term tasks to the agent that can be worked on over an extended period. The quality of the prompt is crucial for good results.
3. **Profiles (Multi-Agents)**: Allows creating multiple agents with their own memories and capabilities 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 retention.
6. **Curator Feature**: Automatically prunes 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, highlighting Hermes’s targeted, reliable updates. It recommends leveraging Hermes’s new features to boost productivity.
**Final Comment**: The video specifically addresses Hermes Agent and OpenClaw and is better suited for intermediate to advanced users.
- LIVE: Is Hermes better than OpenClaw? FINALE!!!
4.5.2026, 21:53:53The YouTube video shows a live stream in which the host tests various AI agents (OpenClaw and Hermes) in a competition called “Agent Olympics.” The stream is 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 various backend models such as ChatGPT and Opus) in five different tasks.
– The tasks include creating infographics, animated music videos, and other complex assignments.
– Results are evaluated live, with OpenClaw with Opus ultimately emerging as the winner.2. **Technical Discussions:**
– There are extensive discussions about the stability and reliability of 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 such as 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 plans to publish more videos about Hermes and multi-agent setups in the future.
– There is discussion about whether live streams should take place at later times to reach a broader audience.**Final Comment:**
The video specifically addresses the AI tools OpenClaw, Hermes, ChatGPT, and Opus. It is better suited for 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 in which 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 graphically poor.
– **Hermes with Opus**: Best graphics and playability, rated as actually entertaining.3. **Test 3: Website Rebuild (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 replica 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.
**Final Comment**: The video specifically addresses the AI models Claude (Opus), OpenAI (ChatGPT), and specific tools such as OpenClaw and Hermes. It is better suited for intermediate and advanced users interested in the performance and comparison of AI agents.
Leon van Zyl (9 new videos)
- Claude Code Agent View: Parallel Agents Are Here
14.5.2026, 10:51:58The video reports on a serious supply chain attack on open-source packages in the npm ecosystem, in which over 100 packages with more than 50 million weekly downloads were compromised. The attack exploited a vulnerability in Tanstack’s release process by having an attacker create a pull request in a fork of the repository, which triggered the CI/CD workflow. By using the `pull_request_target` option, the attacker was able to inject malicious files into the CI server’s shared cache and later steal an npm publish token to release compromised packages. The malware spread further by searching for additional npm publish tokens and infecting more packages, including those from major companies like Mistral AI and UiPath. The malware deeply integrated into developer environments and even used a “dead man switch” to delete infected systems once the stolen tokens became invalid. As protective measures, the use of PNPM1 or higher is recommended, which offers features like “Minimum Release Age”, “Block Exotic Subdependencies”, and “Approved Builds” to prevent such attacks.
The video addresses specific open-source tools and platforms such as npm, GitHub Actions, PNPM, and Sentry and is aimed at intermediate to advanced users dealing with open-source development and security issues.
- 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 by setting up a Next.js project using the Codex CLI tool, which is based on GPT-5.5 and a high reasoning level. A database is set up with Docker and Postgres, and the necessary tables for user authentication are migrated.
The focus is on creating a user-friendly interface that enables users to upload reference images, write prompts, and generate images. The developer uses the capabilities of the Codex tool to design and test the user interface while adhering to a predefined design system. After designing the interface, the actual functionality is implemented, using the OpenAI API key for GPT-4’s image model. The developer shows how to upload reference images and assets and how to generate thumbnails that combine these elements.
At the end, the user interface is adjusted to ensure image generation only happens via the dashboard and not from the home page. The home page is redesigned with a generated image and marketing text. The video emphasizes the efficiency and time savings from using Codex and OpenAI, while also noting the token limitations of the ChatGPT Plus plan.
The video explicitly addresses OpenAI (GPT-5.5, GPT-4 image model) and Codex. It is geared more towards 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 a custom agent, you run the `opencode agent create` command in the terminal. You then provide a description of the agent, for example, an agent named John that responds only with emojis. After creation, you can use the spacebar to specify which functions or tools the agent can access. You also choose 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 output. 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 addresses 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 up different models for different modes in OpenCode. For example, users can use a powerful model like GPT-5 for planning mode and a fast and cost-effective model like Big Pickle for implementation mode (Bold Mode). Alternatively, you can use GPT-5.5 for planning but reduce effort by selecting the “/variants” command with the “low effort” option. This allows planning to be done by an intelligent model while implementation can be handled by a less powerful but faster model.
The video addresses open-source models and is geared more towards 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 create and deploy a web app online. The process includes setting up Hermes Agent on a VPS, integrating 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 creating an appealing front-end 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 shown that the agent can make changes to the app and deploy them automatically.
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 addresses Hermes Agent, OpenAI Codex, GPT 5.5, Vercel, and Telegram. It is geared more towards 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 via 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 by Nvidia. These models are powerful and completely free.
The video addresses OpenCode and OpenCode Zen and is aimed at 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 allows you to autonomously plan and implement software projects. You describe to the tool what you want to build, and it plans the features, adds them to a Kanban board, and implements them automatically. The tool supports various models like Alum Studio and Ollama and can also break down complex tasks into smaller features. The user demonstrates creating a simple to-do app and shows how to add and implement new features. 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 the 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 emphasizes that while free models are good at writing code, they need more detailed instructions for better results. The user recommends using a paid model like Claude for planning features, while using free models for actual implementation. The video ends with an invitation to sign up for a masterclass course teaching how to build applications with coding agents.
The video addresses open-source models like Qwen 3.6 and JML4, as well as tools like Alum Studio, Llama Studio, and Local Forge. It is geared more towards 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 create a Next.js application with OpenCode, an open-source AI tool. The process begins with installing and setting up OpenCode, including connecting with various AI models and providers, both free and paid. The tutorial shows how to add agent capabilities like frontend design and Next.js skills to improve the quality of generated code. It also demonstrates how to use memory files and design systems to increase the consistency and efficiency of the agent. The tutorial continues with creating an application that allows users to input a rough idea of their app and receive a detailed project plan. The agent uses subagents to perform 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: OpenCode (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, 11:01:35In this video, an AI-powered YouTube summarizer is developed using the Cursor tool. The process begins by creating a user interface that takes a YouTube URL and provides a summary of the video. Requirements include a short 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. He installs Next.js and the Shad cn library for the user interface. With the help of Cursor’s agents, a basic user interface is created that meets the requirements. Next, 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 an .env file. The agent then generates the summary including the TLDR, key points, and recommended moments from the transcript.
The video explicitly addresses the tools Cursor, Composer 2, Next.js, Shad cn, YouTube Transcript API, AI SDK, and OpenRouter. It is geared more towards 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 covers a complex supply chain attack on open source packages in the npm ecosystem, affecting over 100 packages with more than 50 million weekly downloads. The attack exploited a vulnerability in Tanstack’s release process when an attacker created a pull request in a fork of the repository, triggering the CI/CD workflow. By using the “pull request target” option, the attacker was able to inject malicious files into the CI server’s shared cache, which later stole a valid npm publish token and published compromised package versions. The malware spread further by searching for additional npm publish tokens and infecting more packages, including those from Mistral AI, UiPath, and Open Search. The malware deeply embedded itself in developer environments and even used a “dead man switch” that deleted the root directory of the infected system upon detection.
To defend against such attacks, the video recommends using PNPM 1 or higher, which offers features like “minimum release age”, “block exotic subdependencies”, and “approved builds” to prevent installation of malicious packages. Additionally, Sentry is introduced as a tool for production error handling that works with an AI-powered agency called Seir to automatically investigate and fix issues.
The video covers specific tools like PNPM, Sentry, and Seir Agent and is aimed at intermediate to advanced users.
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