Open models are expanding research possibilities by giving academics and innovators direct access to model weights, enabling deeper experimentation, customization, and transparency. With open access, researchers can fine-tune, examine internals, combine systems, and develop efficiency techniques that are not possible with closed-model APIs. This empowerment is accelerating advances in AI interpretability, performance, and domain-specific capabilities, while reducing barriers for labs with limited compute resources. As a result, open models are shaping a more diverse and collaborative AI research ecosystem.

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| Website: | Visit Publisher Website | 
| Publisher: | Center for Security and Emerging Technology | 
| Published: | October 1, 2025 | 
| License: | Creative Commons | 
| Copyright: | © 2025 by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. |