The Linux Foundation and Meta have some numbers behind the way open source AI (OSAI) drive innovation and adoption.
Adoption of AI tools is now almost everywhere, with 94% of organizations already using them. Get this. Of that crowd, 89% use open source AI for some of the high-tech backbone.
This week, a paper published by Meta and the Linux Foundation will stitch together academic brains, industry frontline stories and global research data to showcase a bustling ecosystem thanks to its open and affordable prices.
If there’s one thing to jump off the page, it’s about money. Cost savings are a big deal here. Naturally, two-thirds of companies say that open source AI is much cheaper to run compared to its own. So it’s not a shocker to point to these savings as a big reason why almost half of them go to the open source route.
We’re not talking about trimming some coins here and there. Researchers believe that if open source software simply disappears, companies will fire 3.5 times more cash. As AI delves deeper into everything we do, the open source financial muscles can become stronger and even limit the impact of traditional open source software.
But this isn’t just about pinching a penny. It’s about unleashing the brain. The report points out that AI can reduce business units costs by more than 50%. If the open AI model is cheap or even free to be there, there is a level of the arena. Suddenly, developers and businesses of all sizes can jump in, play, and rethink how they do things.
They are often small players, agile startups, medium-sized businesses, and are the first to jump into open source AI than big corporate giants. And because these are often the places where groundbreaking ideas and new products come into being, they actually embrace the home how important Osai is to pack in innovation engines and help challenging, cutting-edge businesses compete.
And if you want textbook examples of how you are open, you will not look outside of Pytorch to see if you can turbocharge things. The report delves into what Meta’s decision to shift the heavyweight deep learning framework to an open governance model under nonprofits turned out to be a masterstroke.
The report closely sees Yue and Nagle (2024) tracking what happened next. When Pytorch flew through the Meta Nest, the contribution from the meta itself was “significantly reduced.” It’s a bit of a chat, right? But in reality, there was a healthy movement from one company calling for shots.
What really strengthened was the opinion of “outside companies, especially from developers of complementary technologies such as chip makers.” Meanwhile, developers who build things together with Pytorch, a real user, have stabilized their engagement – “no change.”
It’s a clear victory. As the researchers said, this kind of shift in key OSAI software “fosters wider participation, promotes contribution and reduces control of single companies.” This is a strong testament to the authors Anna Hermansen and Cailen Osborne reported that “open and collaborative engagement is a better indicator of innovation than patents.”
This is more than just a theory. It’s causing waves in large sectors. Take production. Open source AI is set up to be a game changer there. This is mainly because the open cord can bend it and shape it to fit. This flexibility allows AI to properly slot factory workflows, automate tasks, and smooth order management. A 2023 McKinsey report, flagged in the survey, even predicts that AI could add up to $290 billion to advanced manufacturing.
Then there’s healthcare. Where every penny and every minute counts, like a hospital or a local clinic, free flexible tools like open source AI can literally become lifesavers. Imagine that AI is helping to diagnose and flag a disease early.
McKinsey believes that when AI is really deployed, the global healthcare sector can increase its value by up to $260 billion. An analysis in 2024 showed that open healthcare models can go to the toes with their own models.
And it’s not just technology. It’s about people. The report says AI-related skills can be seen to increase wages by up to 20%. That’s a big deal and really highlights why we need to think about training and development in this new age of AI.
“We’re excited to see the latest research efforts at Linux Foundation,” said Hilary Carter. “The findings from this report reveal: Open source AI is a catalyst for economic growth and opportunity. We see measurable recruitment measures across sectors, increasing productivity, and increased responsibility for Wages and careers.
“Open source AI is not only changing the way companies operate, but reshaping the way people work.”
So, take it home? Open AI models are becoming the standard that underpins future breakthroughs. They are driving growth and healthy competition by making powerful AI tools available without eye-opening price tags.
Cheerleading isn’t the only reporting for Linux Foundation. We’ve laid out the hard numbers to show why open source AI is absolutely important for a robust, stable, and future-proof economy.
reference: Alibaba Wan2.1-Vace: Open Source AI Video Tool for Everyone
Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out the AI & Big Data Expo in Amsterdam, California and London. The comprehensive event will be held in collaboration with other major events, including the Intelligent Automation Conference, Blockx, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.
Check out other upcoming Enterprise Technology events and webinars with TechForge here.
