Open Source Initiative Helps G7 Deliver Vision On AI Openness

On May 29, 2026 in Paris, G7 Digital and Technology ministers approved a “Vision on AI openness opportunities and shared language”. The vision, which sets out terminology around AI openness, is the result of a three-month partnership between the OSI and the G7.

The Vision, which comes under the French Presidency of the G7, highlights the vital role of the Open Source community in building and defining AI Openness. Additionally, it recognizes the challenges in understanding Openness and Open Source in the context of AI, as well as the elements that determine openness, and it calls for the use of clear and appropriate labels that accurately describe the degree of openness of AI systems.

To this end, the Vision sets out clear criteria for AI model openness: labeling models with proprietary licensing as “Weights Available”, while labeling models which are distributed under an Open Source license as “Open Weights”. When it comes to Open Source AI, the criteria broadly follow those of the OSI’s Open Source AI definition  (OSAID), however restrict exceptions to publishing training data to cases of legal or technical impossibility, and only require data information in absence of training data. Finally, the Vision adds criteria for “Open Source AI with Open Data” to describe AI systems where all assets are released free of charge under an Open Source license – including its models’ weights, deployment code, training code, and full training data.

As a knowledge partner in the process, the OSI sought to bring the voices of Open Source communities to the G7, making use of the expertise and experience gained in work on the OSAID, including the feedback received from Open Source communities about the definition. Over the course of three months, OSI staff helped draft the Vision and participated in online negotiations and in-person negotiations in Paris, providing clarity on the varying levels of openness in different AI models. OSI Executive Director Duane O’Brien welcomed the development, saying:

“The G7 Vision on AI Openness is the first such document to be written with this level of direct engagement between Government and representatives of the Open Source community. We believe it will contribute to creating certainty about Open Source AI, and are grateful to the French Presidency of the G7 for their inclusive approach, trust and support throughout this process.”

In the G7 Ministerial Declaration on Digital & Technology, ministers also highlighted the role of the OSI in the process, welcoming “the valuable contribution of the Open Source Initiative, as well as other members of the community, in supporting the development of this document.” 

Following the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration and shared vision at a meeting of G7 Digital and Technology Ministers in Paris, OSI Executive Director Duane O’Brien presented a summary of the work done to the attending Ministers, while highlighting the benefits of Open Source AI and the need for continued collaboration to ensure clarity:

“Open Source transformed the global software industry. It enabled us to collaborate quickly and effectively to develop shared solutions for common problems. This transformation only worked because when we came together to collaborate, we had a shared understanding of what Open Source means. As we evolve our understanding of Open Source AI, it is vital that we continue to work from a similar shared understanding. We hope to continue to work closely with G7 countries on this important issue, and we stand ready to be your knowledge partners in the years to come.”

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