The current push by forces like Meta to promote their own version of the term “open source AI” reminds me of Microsoft’s Shared Source Initiative around 2004. Some parts of Shared Source were open source, but it was mainly a concept that emphasized the ability to view the source code, without the freedom to modify it. Back then, our community didn’t support this Microsoft initiative, but I don’t think OSI played a big role in resisting it; OSI simply continued to protect the term “Open Source.” Yes, I think that was the most important thing.
However, unlike Shared Source, Meta is using the same term “Open Source” as we are, and I feel that within our camp, we don’t yet have a clear flag bearer like Linux. If Llama is the Windows of AI, then perhaps we do need a “Linux” for the AI world. However, that is not OSI’s job.