LF AI & Data welcomes the Open Model Initiative (OMI) as our latest Sandbox project. The OMI is a community-driven initiative dedicated to the advancement and broad adoption of openly licensed, high-quality AI models that inspire innovation, are free to use, and address the needs for open-source AI solutions effectively.
Earlier this year, the OMI joined the Linux Foundation to ensure it was hosted in a neutral environment with fair and transparent open governance. Now, transitioning to LF AI & Data, the OMI is set to thrive in a community exclusively focused on advancing open-source AI. This shift also aligns the OMI with complementary initiatives such as the Generative AI Commons, creating opportunities for collaboration and synergy in shared goals.
The OMI is specifically designed to address and dismantle the licensing barriers that hinder the adoption of AI technology, ensuring competitive open source models are accessible to all. It operates under the ethos of developing AI models with permanent open licenses that eliminate deletion clauses and recurring fees.
Together with the community, the OMI aims to unite developers, researchers, and organizations to advance open and permissively licensed AI model technologies. Formed through a joint effort by founding organizations Invoke, CivitAI, and Comfy Org, the OMI’s objectives are outlined as follows:
- Forming governance frameworks and working groups to stimulate cooperative development among the community.
- Executing surveys to collect insights on future model research and training preferences from the open-source sphere.
- Establishing shared standards for model interoperability and enhanced metadata practices.
- Supporting model development that meets crucial criteria:
- True open source: Models are permissively licensed using an approved Open Source Initiative license, developed with open and transparent principles.
- Capable: Creating competitive models that provide the necessary creative flexibility and extensibility needed by creatives.
- Ethical: Addressing major, substantiated complaints about unconsented references to artists and other individuals in the base model, while recognizing fair use.
Joining LF AI & Data marks a significant step for the OMI in aligning with a vibrant and expanding community dedicated to open-source AI. By becoming part of LF AI & Data, the OMI is now integrated into a larger collective effort that shares the same vision of making AI accessible and beneficial to all. This move enhances our collaborative potential and reinforces our commitment to fostering innovation without barriers.
“LF AI & Data is deeply committed to nurturing an open and collaborative AI ecosystem. With the integration of the Open Model Initiative, we are propelling our efforts to make AI universally accessible and advantageous. This initiative allows us to foster an environment where innovation and advancement in AI can flourish freely and without constraints.” – Ibrahim Haddad, Executive Director of LF AI & Data
Get Involved
The OMI invites individuals and organizations passionate about open source and AI to join the initiative. For more information on participating in working groups or contributing to the development of open AI models, please visit the OMI website, Discord and GitHub.
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