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Feature Request: Inline media display in chat (images, audio, video, web previews) #64607

Description

@DearPeter

Feature Request: Inline media display in chat

Problem Statement

Currently, OpenClaw does not support inline display of generated or received media in chat responses. When users generate images, videos, music, or receive web content, they must manually use \open\\ commands to view them externally.

This creates a fragmented user experience, especially compared to modern messaging platforms like Discord, Telegram, and WeChat, which all support inline media preview.

Desired Behavior

Users expect a seamless experience where all media types display directly within the chat dialog:

Media Type Current Behavior Desired Behavior
Images Requires \open\\ command Inline preview in chat
Audio/Music Requires external player Inline audio player
Video Requires external player Inline video player
Web Pages Requires browser open Inline web preview

Use Cases

  1. Image Generation: User asks for an image, sees it inline immediately
  2. Music Generation: User generates music, can play it inline without leaving chat
  3. Video Generation: User creates video, can preview inline
  4. Web Content: Shared URLs render as rich previews (like Discord/Telegram link previews)

Expected User Impact

  • Improved UX: No context switching to view media
  • Better Engagement: More natural conversation flow
  • Platform Parity: Matches expectations set by Discord/Telegram/WeChat

Technical Considerations

  • Support for async media generation (video/music may take time)
  • Fallback for unsupported media types
  • Consider thumbnail vs full display based on file size
  • Mobile-responsive inline players

References

Related issues: #50957, #50953, #50951, #50946

This is a highly requested feature with multiple duplicate issues indicating strong user demand.

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    P2Normal backlog priority with limited blast radius.clawsweeper:fix-shape-clearClawSweeper found a clear likely implementation shape for this issue.clawsweeper:needs-live-reproClawSweeper needs live local, crabbox, or manual validation to confirm this issue.clawsweeper:needs-maintainer-reviewClawSweeper marked this issue as needing maintainer review before automation.clawsweeper:needs-product-decisionClawSweeper marked this issue as needing a product or behavior decision.clawsweeper:needs-security-reviewClawSweeper marked this issue as needing security-sensitive review.clawsweeper:no-new-fix-prClawSweeper does not recommend queueing a new automated fix PR for this issue.impact:message-lossChannel message delivery can be lost, duplicated, or misrouted.impact:securitySecurity boundary, credential, authz, sandbox, or sensitive-data risk.issue-rating: 🐚 platinum hermitGood issue quality with a plausible reproduction path needing some confirmation.

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