How to get AI regulation right for open source

The EU AI Act aims to establish the first comprehensive AI regulation and set a global precedent, but it poses risks to open source AI by potentially treating upstream projects like commercial products, which could hinder open source development and conflict with the needs of developers and non-profit organizations. To address these concerns, a policy paper titled "Supporting Open Source and Open Science in the AI Act" has been published in collaboration with leading organizations such as Creative Commons and Hugging Face, offering guidance for policymakers. The paper emphasizes the importance of supporting the open source AI ecosystem, highlighting its role in fostering global public goods and shaping transparency and voluntary commitments. GitHub has played a pivotal role in representing the open source community in EU discussions, advocating for exemptions for developers to account for the unique aspects and potential risks of open source AI systems. GitHub's leadership continues to collaborate with various organizations to influence informed policymaking that accommodates open source innovation as AI policy evolves globally.