Amid Deepseek pressure, why OpenAI is launching an ‘open weight’ AI model

After initially suggesting that OpenAI may have been “on the wrong side of history” regarding open-sourcing its technology, CEO Sam Altman has now revealed that the company will release its first “open weight” language model since GPT-2 in the coming months. This move comes as OpenAI faces growing concerns that it is losing ground to competitors like Deepseek and Meta, who have already introduced certain open-weight AI models.

“We’ve been thinking about this for a long time but other priorities took precedence. now it feels important to do,” Altman said in a post on X. The model will have “reasoning” capabilities along the lines of OpenAI’s o3-mini.

Altman clarified that OpenAI will release an open-weight model, not an open-source model, as the former offers less transparency than the latter.

Also read : The Lamborghini that ran into two in Noida belongs to YouTuber Mridul Tiwari

OpenAI’s Response to Deepseek: Launching an Open-Weight AI Model

Open-source models offer complete transparency by providing access to the source code, model architecture, training algorithms, and weights under a license that permits free use, modification, and distribution. Ideally, the training data is also shared, though legal restrictions often prevent this. In contrast, open-weight models include only the trained model weights, without revealing the source code, training data, or full architectural details. This limits transparency and customization, allowing users to run the model but not extensively modify or retrain it.

Also read : Is Uploading Photos for a Studio Ghibli Makeover on ChatGPT Safe?

Why OpenAI is changing tack

After years of prioritizing closed-source technology, OpenAI shifted its strategy in response to the emergence of China’s Deepseek. This development showed the world that companies could create an open-source language model at a fraction of the cost spent by some of their competitors.Meta has also found success through its open weight model, Llama, which has hit more than a billion downloads – even though developers have complained that its model’s licence terms could be commercially restrictive.

OpenAI provides access to its AI models via a chatbot and the cloud, whereas its competitors allow users to download and modify their models.

Also read : Empuraan Manufactured Outrage and Tragic Surrender

During a recent Reddit Q&A, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted that the company has not been on the right side of history regarding open-sourcing its technologies. He stated, “[I personally believe we need to] develop a different open-source strategy.” However, he acknowledged that not everyone at OpenAI shares this perspective and that it is not currently the company’s top priority. Altman also noted that while OpenAI will continue to develop more advanced models, its competitive edge may not be as significant as in previous years.

According to a feedback form OpenAI published on its website, the company was inviting “developers, researchers, and [members of] the broader community” and included questions like, “What would you like to see in an open-weight model from OpenAI?” and “What open models have you used in the past?”