THE OPEN SOURCE AI DEFINITION 1.0

We have released the first stable version of the Definition.

Read version 1.0

What’s Open Source AI?

Following the same idea behind Open Source Software,
an Open Source AI is a system made available under terms that grant users the freedoms to:

Use the system for any purpose and
without having to ask for permission.

Precondition to exercise these freedoms is to have access to
the preferred form to make modifications to the system, and to the means to use it.

Study how the system works and
understand how its results were created.

Precondition to exercise these freedoms is to have access to
the preferred form to make modifications to the system, and to the means to use it.

Modify the system for any purpose,
including to change its output.

Precondition to exercise these freedoms is to have access to
the preferred form to make modifications to the system, and to the means to use it.

Share the system for others to use with
or without modifications, for any purpose.

Precondition to exercise these freedoms is to have access to
the preferred form to make modifications to the system, and to the means to use it.

Benefits of Open Source AI

Transparency & Safety

Open Source AI provides information essential for auditing systems and to mitigate bias, ensures accountability and transparency of data sources, and accelerates AI safety research.

Competition & Polyculture

Open Source AI makes more models available, spurs innovation and quality due to increased competition and tackles AI monoculture by providing more stakeholders access to foundational technology.

Diverse Applications

Open Source AI gives developers access to resources crucial for developing context-specific, localized applications that are representative of cultural and linguistic diversity and allow for model aligned with different value systems.

Read the white paper

The Open Source Initiative and Open Future have taken a significant step toward addressing this challenge by releasing this white paper. The document is the culmination of a global co-design process, enriched by insights from a vibrant two-day workshop held in Paris in October 2024.

Read the white paper

Why Open Source AI needs a definition?

Open Source Frontier

The traditional view of Open Source code and licenses when applied to AI components are not sufficient to guarantee the freedoms to use, study, share and modify the systems.

Informing Regulators

Government regulations have begun in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. Communities need a common understanding to educate policy makers.

Combat Openwashing

Companies are calling AI systems “Open Source” even though their licenses contain restrictions that go against the accepted principles and freedoms of Open Source.

Who’s behind the Open Source AIDefinition

View all Endorsers

Supported by

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
1 - Bloomberg
2 - Google Open Source
https://go.opensource.org/google
5 - Microsoft

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