Open-Source AI Models: Literacy & Landscape

A 12-minute orientation to reading the open-weight model market like a strategist — what each chapter gives you, how they connect, and where to begin.

The word "open" hides two very different deals — and the one that decides what you can legally ship is the license, not the label.

A working map of who leads the open-weight field right now — and the bigger story of where the lead has moved.

The leaderboards that rank open models, the self-reported numbers that flatter them, and how to read an open-vs-open comparison without being fooled.

There are two cost worlds — renting by the token and running it yourself — and "free weights" lands you in the more expensive one more often than people expect.

The providers that serve open models for you, the aggregator that hands you all of them through one door, and how to pick — by price, speed, and where your data may go.

A durability framework for picking an open-model vendor that will still be strong and supported next year — and how to hedge so no single bet can sink you.