OSI launches Open Source AI Salons to shape the next OSAID

A new series focused on the OSAID

The first salon took place the day after All Things Open, where the OSI hosted the State of the Source track. In its November 2026 members newsletter, the organization said the salon was intended to help it “re-engage the community” around the Open Source AI Definition, also known as OSAID.

The discussions will examine what the community has learned since OSAID 1.0 was published two years ago. They will also be used to chart the initiative’s next steps. The OSI said it plans to host many more salons in the coming months, although it has not provided specific dates or locations.

Community input comes as AI openness evolves

The salons give the OSI a forum to revisit how open source principles apply to artificial intelligence. The newsletter links the initiative to ongoing debate over open-weight models and the conditions under which AI systems are built and shared.

The organization also highlighted related work across the open source and AI communities. Its newsletter lists research and publications on open-weight foundation models, AI development, open source policy, licensing and governance. These materials include work from the Linux Foundation, Open Future, ICML 2026 and NeurIPS.

The OSI’s update does not announce a revised definition. Instead, it presents the salons as a process for collective discussion before the organization decides on its next steps.

Policy decisions will add pressure to the debate

The OSI expects increased activity around policies affecting Open Source and Open Source AI following the November elections in the United States. According to the newsletter, incoming legislators will propose policies that could affect how Open Source AI is built and shared, including open weight models.

The OSI said it and its partners in the Open Policy Alliance will work to help lawmakers understand what openness makes possible and what could be at stake if it is restricted. The organization said it will share more as the policy landscape becomes clearer.

For developers, researchers and organizations working on open AI, the salons could become an important route for influencing how the OSAID develops. For policymakers, the initiative is positioning the OSI and its partners as sources of information while legislation concerning AI openness takes shape.