The issue of open-source versus closed-source software in the artificial intelligence industry is a hot topic at the moment, with some important players in the game, including Meta’s very own Mark Zuckerberg, contributing strong opinions on the matter.
Open source AI means a decentralisation of power over source code, making it accessible to anyone and everyone.
This move has plenty of consequences in the tech world and for the emerging AI industry, an industry that has significant potential to become incredibly competitive.
So, why are industry leaders encouraging open-source software (OSS), and what exactly does this mean for the artificial intelligence industry?
We’re going to start off by explaining exactly what open-source software is and how it works in AI, before exploring the potential consequences that this may have for the future of the AI industry.
What is Open Source Software?
The term “open-source” refers to software that is publicly accessible – that is, anyone can access the software to view the code, edit it or enhance it.
This stands in great contrast to closed-source software (CSS) which is owned by its creator. That means that the owner is the only person who can access the code and make any changes to it.
So, how does this affect the software and its users? We’ll answer this by looking at five of the main aspects of both types of software and how they differ from one to the other.
Pricing
The norm is that open-source tends to be free while closed-source software almost always comes at a cost.
Of course, there are some open-source software companies that allow users to pay to upgrade to higher-level models that provide extended services, functions and features.
Generally speaking, closed-source software provides users with these extended features as part of the package, which is why it is a fair bit more expensive.
Flexibility
By its very nature, closed-source software doesn’t offer users flexibility, because it doesn’t provide the option to edit the source code according to the users’ specific preferences.
Open-source software, on the other hand, is far more flexible, providing users with a way to view and modify source code in whatever way suits them.
Security
Interestingly enough, there’s no real difference in security levels when it comes to open-source as opposed to closed-source software. In fact, it’s more a matter of opinion.
For instance, some argue that open-source software is more secure (or has the potential to be more secure) because it can receive input from an entire community of skilled professionals with a common objective.
The argument for closed-source software, however, is that since it’s not publicly accessible, it boasts secure codebases that are not very likely to be exploited.
So, at the end of the day, it’s up to users to decide what they’re more comfortable with.
Support
Since open-source software is normally free, users don’t tend to have access to official support systems. However, there’s normally a fair bit of support available via forums.
And, for users who decide to pay extra for the extended functionality of open-source software, support is normally available.
When it comes to closed-source, however, since users are paying a fair amount of money to be able to use this proprietary software, they tend to provide access to extensive support.
Ease of Use
Many professionals within the industry argue that closed-source software is more user-friendly and easier to use, because it’s specifically been designed with that purpose in mind.
However, that doesn’t mean that open-source software software is necessarily difficult to use or non-user-friendly. As such, it’s being used for commercial purposes more and more often.
What Does Open Source Software Mean For AI?
So, now we know exactly what open-source software is and how it differs from closed-source software, but how does it work within the field of AI?
Well, there are several factors to consider in this discussion, but the most clear and, arguably, most important one is that the use of open-source software in artificial intelligence will democratise high-end technology, making the industry far more accessible, especially to those with limited capacity for financial investment.
The ultimate result of this, as well as the intention behind it, is that this will lead to a widespread adoption of AI which will allow the industry to continue to grow and improve. There will be no gatekeeping of knowledge, and a broader range of industries and applications will benefit from the use of AI.
Indeed, this is the opinion of industry giant, Mark Zuckerberg, who believes that open-source software is beneficial to the big picture of the AI industry.
Those concerned about giving up their competitive technical advantage, Zuckerberg asserts, are missing the long term advantages of open source software.
Essentially, he argues that open-source software allows it to develop significantly faster, encouraging great improvement that may otherwise have taken far longer and cost more money.
In addition, Zuckerberg doesn’t believe that using open-source software will actually detract from the competitive nature of the AI industry in the long run.
In fact, the reality will become that competition between industry giants will simply exist at a higher level. That is, the overall quality of the AI services provided will be better across the board.
Open-Source Software and the Future of AI
The main idea behind open-source software in AI is to create universal access to this groundbreaking technology, preventing the industry from being totally controlled by a few wealthy players.
This is especially important in the world of AI since the industry boasts more potential, according to Zuckerberg, than any other type of modern technology to improve productivity, innovation and even quality of life.
The hope and objective behind open-source software is to get the most out of AI technology and ensure that everybody and anybody can benefit from this technological progress, regardless of position in the industry and financial means.