In an industry-first move, IBM and Meta have announced the formation of the AI Alliance, a new coalition promoting open-source AI development. This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the rapidly evolving AI landscape and the concerns surrounding its safety and lack of regulation.
Driving open-source AI innovation
The AI Alliance’s primary goal is cultivating an open community where developers and researchers can quickly advance AI innovation responsibly. The coalition stresses the importance of scientific accuracy, trust, security, diversity, and economic competitiveness in AI development. In contrast to private AI models from companies like OpenAI and Google, the AI Alliance will focus on increasing the availability of open-source AI models with publicly accessible source codes.
Collaborative and transparent approach
Nick Clegg, the president of Global Affairs at Meta, highlighted the benefits of a collaborative approach to AI development. “We believe it’s better when AI is developed openly — more people can access the benefits, build innovative products and work on safety,” Clegg stated. The AI Alliance aims to bring together a diverse group of researchers, developers, and companies to share tools and knowledge, ultimately fostering progress in AI, whether the models are open-source or not.
Commitment to responsible AI
A key focus of the AI Alliance is to initiate or enhance projects with specific objectives, like establishing benchmarks for responsible AI creation. These efforts will include compiling a catalogue of vetted tools and encouraging developers to adopt them. Safety and transparency are also high on the agenda, with plans to create educational resources for the public and policymakers and to organise events and initiatives highlighting safe AI development practices.
Broad-based support and notable absence
Over 50 organisations and educational bodies worldwide, including Intel, NASA, the Cleveland Clinic, and Yale University, support this initiative. Notably, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is not among the founding members of the AI Alliance. This collaboration between IBM and Meta signifies a significant shift in the AI development landscape, emphasising the importance of openness and shared knowledge in shaping the future of AI technology.
