OSI Newsletter: UN Talks, Open Source Congress and a New Website
The Open Source Initiative (OSI) used its October 2026 members newsletter to report on a busy stretch of travel and policy work, from the UN General Assembly in New York to Open Source Congress in Halifax. It also announced a redesigned website and a new round of its State of Open Source Survey.
- OSI Executive Director Duane O'Brien joined an Open Source AI panel at UN Digital Cooperation Day during UNGA81.
- At Open Source Congress in Halifax, leaders from more than 40 foundations formed working groups on topics including security, AI and governance.
- The OSI launched a new website reflecting its broader work on policy, standards, research, education and Open Source AI.
- The 2027 State of Open Source Survey is run with Perforce Zend, OpenLogic and the Eclipse Foundation and takes about 10 minutes.
- The OSI is asking member organizations to support it as they plan 2027 budgets, citing new sponsor benefits.
From New York to Halifax to Prague
In the letter to members, Executive Director Duane O'Brien describes weeks that took him from New York to Halifax to Prague. At UN Digital Cooperation Day, part of the 81st UN General Assembly, he joined a panel on Open Source AI. According to the newsletter, his aim was to reinforce the importance of shared language and common definitions when crafting policy.
The same day he took part in a conversation on openness and digital sovereignty with Creative Commons and the NYU Engelberg Center. His key message, in the newsletter's words: open by itself "does very little, but enables a lot." The OSI also published a blog post on its UNGA81 activity, which covers the talks and the inaugural 50-in-5 Awards.
In Halifax, O'Brien attended Stakeholder Day as part of Open Source Congress. He met leaders from more than 40 foundations, who formed working groups on global collaboration, sustainability, security, regulatory policy, AI and governance. OSI staff and board also met in person there, and O'Brien thanked outgoing Board Chair Tracy Hinds for her leadership.
At Open Source Summit Europe in Prague, he spoke with leaders and advocates. He writes that sovereignty, security, Open Source AI and sustainability are driving important conversations in the European community, to which the OSI intends to keep contributing.
New website and a fresh survey
The OSI says it has launched a new website that reflects a broader mission. According to the organization, its work has grown beyond the Open Source Definition and licensing to include policy and standards, research and education, and Open Source AI. The site is meant to bring these areas into clearer focus and make it easier for the community and partners to find out what the OSI does and how to get involved.
The OSI has also announced the 2027 State of Open Source Survey. It is again working with Perforce Zend and OpenLogic, as well as the Eclipse Foundation. The survey is designed to gather insight into how organizations use open source technologies and to identify trends, growth areas and challenges. According to the newsletter, it takes about 10 minutes to complete.
The newsletter also points to a European Commission targeted consultation on the use of copyright-protected content in the context of AI, research and the fight against online piracy, among other topics.
Open weights, press coverage and community news
The OSI's press roundup includes several pieces on the difference between open weights and open source AI. Headlines listed include "Open weights are not open source AI, and why it matters" from We ❤️ Open Source and "Don't use 'open weight' and 'open source' interchangeably" from The New Stack. PBS ran a researcher's explanation of the difference between closed, open-source and open-weight AI. The roundup also notes that the OSI approved the curl license.
Among affiliate news, the Eclipse Foundation launched the Sovereign AI Foundation, and the Apereo Foundation launched HEOSAT to help higher education evaluate, adopt and strengthen open source software. The Python Software Foundation announced its Strategic Plan 2026.
Upcoming events listed include All Things Open (October 18-20, Raleigh), the Open Technology Research Symposium (October 26-27, Barcelona), Code & Compliance (October 27, Brussels), Mozilla Festival (October 28-30, Barcelona) and SFSCON (November 13-14, Bolzano).
What it means for members and sponsors
O'Brien uses the letter to ask member organizations to back the OSI as they plan 2027 budgets or review accruals and unspent marketing budget. He says the OSI has an "exciting slate of new sponsor benefits" planned for 2027 and calls the coming year transformational. Automattic is named among the new sponsors and renewals.
For the wider community, the newsletter signals that the OSI is positioning itself around policy, shared definitions for Open Source AI and digital sovereignty, while the redesigned website and the survey give organizations new ways to engage with its work.
Open Source Initiative: Opening New Paths for Open Source