JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON Open Source AI
We’re driving a multi-stakeholder process to define an “Open Source AI” and you can be part of the conversation.
Why Artificial Intelligence needs to be Open Source?
The Open Source principles have demonstrated that massive benefits accrue to everyone when you remove the barriers to learning, using, sharing and improving software systems. The benefits can be distilled to autonomy, transparency, and collaborative improvement. Everyone needs these benefits in artificial intelligence. We need essential freedoms to enable users to build and deploy AI systems that are reliable and transparent.
Why do we need a new Definition of Open Source just for AI?
AI systems are growing more complex and pervasive every day. 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. It is time to address the question: What does it mean for an AI system to be Open Source?
How will we define Open Source AI?
The Open Source Definition is a practical guide to judge if legal documents grant the four freedoms to software, following the principles of the GNU Manifesto. More than two decades passed between Stallman writing the GNU Manifesto and Perens writing the Open Source Definition. For AI we can’t wait decades for someone to produce a new document.
The Open Source Initiative started coordinating in 2022 a global process to sharpen collective knowledge and identify the principles that lead to a widely adopted Open Source AI Definition.
What makes the Open Source AI Definition
The preamble
Contains the basic principles for an Open Source AI, the policy objectives and what’s not included in the Definition.
Open Source AI
A synthetic list of freedoms that are expected to be available to users and developers of AI systems.
The checklist
A set of points used to evaluate legal documents in light of the list of expected freedoms.
The Open Source AI Definition Process
September-November
Online
Deep Dive Webinars
Host the online presentations from experts approved by the Deep Dive program committee
Who is involved in this process?
🛠️ System Creators
Makes AI system and/or component that will be studied, used, modified, or shared through an open source license.
📃 License Creators
Writes or edits the open source license to be applied to the AI system or component; includes compliance.
🏛️ Regulators
Writes or edits rules governing licenses and systems (e.g. government policy-maker).
🎓 Licensees
Seeks to study, use modify, or share an open source AI system (e.g. AI engineer, health researcher, education researcher)
⌨️ End Users
Consumes a system output, but does not seek to study, use, modify, or share the system (e.g., student using a chatbot to write a report, artist creating an image)
🙇 Subjects
Affected upstream or downstream by a system output without interacting with it intentionally; includes advocates for this group (e.g. people with loan denied, or content creators).
Open Source AI Definition Open to public comments
RC1
- Expected outcome of in-person meeting end May/early June!
- The draft is completed in all its parts
- The draft is supported by at least 2 representatives for each of the 6 stakeholder groups
Stable version
- Expected outcome of in-person and online meetings through the summer/early autumn
- The draft is endorsed by at least 5 reps for each of the stakeholder groups
- Announced in late October
Join us in our public Town Halls
Our Executive Director, Stefano Maffulli is hosting bi-weekly public Town Halls to share process updates and have an open discussion with participants. Join us live!
Upcoming Town Halls
Previous Town Halls (Watch the recordings)
Previous Work
Deep Dive AI Webinar Series 2023
Speakers from law, academia, enterprise, NGOs, and the OSS community presented webinars addressing pressing issues and potential solutions in our use and development of AI systems.
All Things Open – Deep Dive AI 2023
After two community reviews and a first pass at comments, we released a new draft version. The base is a preamble to explain “why Open Source AI”, followed by the beginning of a formal definition.
2022 Deep Dive AI Podcasts
We released a series of 6 podcasts with experts on the matter to discuss all various aspects of Open Source AI.
2022 Panel Discussions
Four experts in Business, Society, Legal, Academia further dissect the issues posed by AI systems.
Deep Dive AI: The 2023 Report Update
By bringing together experts from various domains, the OSI is actively contributing to the discourse on Open Source AI, laying the groundwork for a future where the principles of openness, transparency, and collaboration continue to underpin the evolution of cutting-edge technologies for the benefit of society as a whole.
Deep Dive AI: The 2022 Report
What does it mean for an AI system to be Open Source?
This report summarizes the discussions above and underscores what we’ve learned about the challenges and opportunities for the Open Source movement posed by AI.
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OSI’s work wouldn’t be possible without the support of the thousands of individual members. Join us today!