Open vs. Closed AI: What's the Difference?

Artificial intelligence models are described as "open" or "closed." These terms refer to how much information about an AI model's workings is publicly available. Here's the thing: If all the information is public and the model can be modified, it's considered "open." If the developer keeps the inner workings secret and the model private, it's "closed." The concept of open-source software began with the free software movement, emphasizing four freedoms: to run, study, modify, and distribute programs. This means the basic instructions, or source code, are available. What's interesting is that the open-source idea is now prominent again with the rise of large language models like ChatGPT. Meta was an early adopter, releasing its LLaMa model with its inference source code available. The bottom line: Understanding these distinctions helps clarify how different AI technologies are developed and shared.