AI Glossary Term
What does “Open-Source Model” mean?
A model released with public weights or code for inspection, adaptation, and reuse.
How Open-Source Model works
Example
A university lab downloads a publicly released model, runs it on its own servers, and fine-tunes it on local-language text without sending data to an outside provider.
Why it matters
Open models improve transparency, research access, and independence from one vendor. They also make it harder to control misuse, and licenses vary in what they allow.
Common questions
Is open-weights the same as open source?
Not always. Some models release weights under licenses with restrictions, which differs from the strict definition of open source.
Are open models free to use?
The download may be free, but running them costs hardware and the license may limit commercial use.
Are they less safe?
They allow anyone to modify them, including removing safeguards, while also letting more researchers inspect and improve them.