Open washing: AI companies mislead with “open source” label

A study by Andreas Liesenfeld and Mark Dingemanse from Radboud University’s Center for Language Studies reveals that many AI companies, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft, engage in “open washing” by mislabeling their products as open source. The researchers surveyed 45 text and text-to-image models and found that while a handful of lesser-known models meet the true open source criteria, most do not. Companies use this deceptive practice to improve their public image and appeal to consumers who value transparency, as well as to shield their models from scientific and regulatory scrutiny. The EU AI Act provides special exemptions for open source models, creating a powerful incentive for open washing. Source: The Register

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