ChatGPT maker OpenAI made headlines this month with two major launches: the release of two so-called open weight models and the debut of the long-anticipated next generation Chat-GPT 5. While most of the media and industry buzz focused on the latter, it’s the open models, and the rapidly advancing ecosystem around them, that could make a bigger difference for everyone from researchers to small businesses.
The idea of open versus closed (or proprietary) models is familiar to anyone who has worked in software, and the definition is the same when it comes to AI. According to our partners at the Open Source Initiative (OSI), open source AI means anyone can look at how the model works, change it, use it, and share it freely without needing to ask for permission. OpenAI’s new open weight models don’t entirely meet this definition, but they are still in position to deliver the most impact for many businesses.
