OpenAI announces the first free Open Source AI model in five years: planning to add "cloud relay" functionality to combat Meta and DeepSeek.

This could be a major turning point in the Open Source AI world, as OpenAI is finally set to return to the ranks of "truly open" and is also prepared to add a killer feature.

OpenAI's "Open Source" model will be released this summer.

OpenAI is expected to release a brand new AI model in early summer this year, and the biggest highlight this time is that this will be the company's first truly "Open Source" model in nearly five years, which does not require API authorization and can be downloaded directly for use. According to a report from TechCrunch, OpenAI has high hopes for this model, aiming to surpass the performance of similar open source models from competitors like Meta and DeepSeek.

Although the official name and complete specifications have not yet been publicly released, internal sources indicate that this model is newly trained and not a revision of an old model. Its performance is expected to be slightly inferior to OpenAI's own o3 model, but it will be able to outperform DeepSeek's R1 model in certain inference tests.

"Cloud Relay" feature: Small models can also become superheroes.

What is even more exciting is that OpenAI intends to introduce an unprecedented design in this model: a cloud model handoff function. According to two sources familiar with internal discussions, this design concept aims to allow local models to automatically call upon the large models in OpenAI's cloud to assist in completing tasks when handling complex queries.

This feature was inspired by a suggestion made by a developer at a recent OpenAI open source community forum, which seems to have garnered significant attention within the company. There are even reports that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned this feature in discussions with developers, describing it as a "handoff", similar to passing the baton to a stronger runner in a relay.

Hybrid architecture similar to Apple Intelligence

If this feature is successfully implemented, it will allow OpenAI's Open Source model to simultaneously possess the efficiency of local execution and the powerful computing power of cloud support. This architecture inevitably brings to mind Apple’s "Apple Intelligence" to be launched in 2024, which also combines device-side models and private cloud models to handle AI tasks.

Through this mixed computation design, OpenAI can not only enhance the capabilities of its model on a technical level but also attract more developers from the Open Source community to join its commercial ecosystem. For users, there is also the opportunity to enjoy a flexible switching experience between free and paid models.

The price and usage restrictions are still unclear.

However, this so-called "handoff" feature is still in the preliminary planning stage, and it has not yet been confirmed whether it will be implemented as scheduled. Additionally, details such as pricing and API call limits are still unclear. OpenAI has not responded to the report.

If this feature goes live, it means that users can "upgrade" to use OpenAI's advanced models in the cloud even when operating a free Open Source model, significantly lowering the threshold for AI application while expanding OpenAI's potential user base and revenue opportunities.

Open Source community-led design? OpenAI showcases a new posture

A major feature of this model development is that OpenAI actively interacts with the open source community. Through a series of developer forums and feedback collection activities, community members are involved in the conceptualization and functional suggestions of the model design. This is different from the past impression of OpenAI as "black box operations," and it may also be aimed at rebuilding trust in the open field to compete with open source rivals like Meta.

OpenAI opens a new chapter, cloud relay will become the key

Although many details about this model are still unclear at the moment, its free, Open Source, and downloadable features are enough to attract attention. Once the "handoff" function is successfully implemented, OpenAI will create a new model that combines free and commercial elements on the open-source AI battlefield. This could not only rewrite the usage logic of AI models but also provide an opportunity to gain a competitive edge in a fiercely competitive market.

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