Openwashing

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the concept of "openwashing" - an accusation against some AI companies that they are using the "open source" label too loosely. It explores the debate around whether AI models should be open source, the lack of a clear definition of what open source AI means, and the challenges in truly making AI models open source.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Openwashing

1. What is the definition of "openwashing" according to the article? According to the article, "openwashing" is an accusation against some AI companies that they are using the "open source" label too loosely.

2. What are the key points made about openwashing in the article?

• There is a debate in the tech world over whether AI models should be "open source".
• Some are accusing AI companies of "openwashing" - using the "open source" term disingenuously to make themselves look good.
• Accusations of openwashing have previously been aimed at coding projects that used the open source label too loosely.
• As the rules around open source AI get written, there is a challenge in building sufficient guardrails against corporations' attempts at 'openwashing'.
• The Linux Foundation has cautioned that this 'openwashing' trend threatens to undermine the very premise of openness.

[02] Open Source AI

1. What are the key points made about open source AI in the article?

• Proponents of open source AI models say they're more equitable and safer for society, while detractors say they are more likely to be abused for malicious intent.
• There is no agreed-upon definition of what open source AI actually means.
• Organizations that apply the "open source" label to their AI models may be taking very different approaches to openness.
• The most open AI models, run mainly by nonprofits, disclose the source code and underlying training data, and use an open source license that allows for wide reuse.
• However, even with these open models, there are obstacles to others being able to replicate them due to the high computing power and data curation required.
• Some experts say labeling any AI as "open source" is at best misleading and at worst a marketing tool, as the prohibitive resource requirements for building AI models are simply not going away.

2. What efforts are underway to create a clearer definition for open source AI?

• Researchers at the Linux Foundation have published a framework that places open source AI models into various categories.
• The Open Source Initiative is trying to draft a definition for open source AI.

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