Shaping the Future of Generative AI: The Role of Open-Source Software
NAPA, Calif. – At the Linux Foundation Member Summit, Linux Foundation Research announced a new report that dives deep into the sometimes awkward relationship between open source and artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Findings
Called “Shaping the Future of Generative AI,” the report — produced by Linux Foundation AI & Data and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) — reveals that open-source software is crucial in shaping the future of generative AI. The report surveyed 316 AI professionals and found that:
- 94% of organizations currently use Gen AI, with 42% reporting high or very high adoption rates.
- 41% of those using Gen AI report that their organization’s code infrastructure supporting AI is open source.
- Nearly half (46%) of organizations cited cost efficiency for choosing open-source Gen AI solutions.
- 52% of respondents said transparency and trust in the source code were primary reasons for choosing open-source Gen AI solutions.
Cost Savings and Transparency
The report highlights the significant cost savings that organizations can achieve by using open-source Gen AI solutions. For example, AI application frameworks like LangChain and LlamaIndex enable organizations to develop and deploy AI models at a fraction of the cost of proprietary solutions. Additionally, the rise of using cloud native technologies to run scalable Gen AI programs has emerged as a key enabler for orchestrating scalable Gen AI workloads, with 50% of organizations using it to host some or all of their Gen AI inferencing workloads.
Regulatory Compliance and Licensing
The report also emphasizes the importance of transparency and trust in the source code, as governments get more involved in regulating AI. However, licensing worries and all, open-source AI will only continue to grow. Seventy-one percent of respondents report that open source positively influences their decision-making, and 73% of organizations expect to increase their use of open-source Gen AI tools over the next two years.
Conclusion
The report concludes that open source will remain indispensable in shaping the future of generative AI. Both the Linux Foundation and I recommend that organizations prioritize open source in their Gen AI strategies to remain competitive and aligned with industry trends. Like all software, open source is essential for further AI advances.
FAQs
Q: What is the main finding of the report?
A: The report reveals that open-source software is crucial in shaping the future of generative AI, with 94% of organizations currently using Gen AI and 41% of those using open-source code infrastructure.
Q: Why do organizations choose open-source Gen AI solutions?
A: The report found that nearly half (46%) of organizations cited cost efficiency, while 52% of respondents said transparency and trust in the source code were primary reasons for choosing open-source Gen AI solutions.
Q: What is the future of open-source AI?
A: The report concludes that open source will remain indispensable in shaping the future of generative AI, with 71% of respondents reporting that open source positively influences their decision-making and 73% of organizations expecting to increase their use of open-source Gen AI tools over the next two years.
