AI Reports · GovAI (Oxford) · 2026-10-17 · Policy position
AI Lab Policy Open-Sourcing Highly Capable Foundation Models September 2023 GovAI Paper Elizabeth Seger, Noemi Dreksler, Richard Moulange, Emily Dardaman, Jonas Schuett, K. Wei, et al. We evaluate the
This paper evaluates the risks and benefits of open-sourcing highly capable foundation models, along with alternative ways to pursue open-source goals. It argues that while open-sourcing has generally provided net benefits in software and AI, some highly capable models likely to emerge soon may pose risks that outweigh those benefits, so they should not be open-sourced at least initially. It also explores alternative sharing options and offers recommendations for developers, standard-setting bodies, and governments.