David Siegel, a former colleague of Richard Stallman, argues in a Fortune article that the AI industry must prioritize open-source models to prevent knowledge from being locked away by corporations.Siegel recalls his past debates with Stallman over free software, emphasizing that software represents shared knowledge.He warns that current AI models are increasingly closed, with only a few open alternatives available.

Siegel urges governments, private companies, and nonprofits to invest in open-source AI research, suggesting public funding for open projects and collaborative efforts to ensure transparency.Critics question the feasibility of open AI, citing challenges like data access, computational costs, and the complexity of training models.

The article highlights ongoing debates about the ethical and practical implications of open versus closed AI development, with some arguing that open-source models are essential to avoid monopolization of critical technologies.