DeepSeek has been advancing the frontiers of AI accessibility with freely available and open models such as China’s R1 model and Alibaba’s Qwen series. This strategy is also a direct counter to China’s ongoing advancements in the AI sector, and OpenAI explicitly aims that providing models like these—models capable of competing with its restricted alternatives—will enable businesses and users to depend on American AI rather than resorting to overseas choices.
This strategy aligns with Trump’s American AI Action Plan, which advocates for reduced regulations on AI firms so they can keep innovating and enhancing their products. However, OpenAI isn’t the sole American entity providing “open weight” models. Meta has been rolling out its own alternatives for several months now—though concerns regarding Meta AI’s self-optimization have been raised—so OpenAI catching up in this area is welcome news for some.
