Open Source Model
Level 2Short Description
An AI model whose weights (and often training code) are publicly released, allowing inspection, modification, and self-hosting.
Friendly Description: An open source model is an AI model whose inner workings are shared openly with the world. Anyone can download it, look inside, run it on their own computers, fine-tune it, or build new things with it. This is in contrast to closed models, which you can only use through a company's API. Open source models help spread AI knowledge and let smaller teams build powerful tools.
Example: A research lab might release an open source model so universities, startups, and hobbyists can experiment with it. A small business could download it, run it on their own servers for privacy, and customize it for their specific industry, all without paying per-question fees.