ELI5: What is the difference between open-source and closed-source AI

Imagine open-source AI is like a Lego set with instructions you can change, while closed-source AI is like a pre-built toy you can only play with as it is.

Think of it this way:

• Closed-source AI is like a toy car you buy from the store. You can drive it around and play with it, but you can't open it up to see how the engine works, change the wheels, or add a rocket booster. Companies like Apple or Microsoft often create closed-source AI. You use their Siri or Cortana, but you don’t know exactly how they make decisions or personalize their responses. You're only allowed to use it as the company intended.

• Open-source AI is like a recipe for baking a cake that's freely available online. You can follow the recipe exactly, or you can tweak it – add more sugar, use different flour, or even invent a whole new cake! You can also share your improved recipe with others. A good example is image editing software like GIMP. It's open-source, allowing users to modify the program to fit their needs.

| Feature | Open-Source AI | Closed-Source AI |
|---------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Access | Everyone can see and modify the "recipe." | Only the company that made it can see it. |
| Modification | You can change it and make it better. | You can only use it as it is. |
| Cost | Usually free to use. | Often requires payment or subscription. |
| Transparency | You can see how it works. | You don't know how it works internally. |

So, in everyday life, using an app powered by open-source AI means lots of people have helped build and improve it, and you might even be able to help too! Using an app powered by closed-source AI means a company has complete control, and you just get to use the final product.