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Open Model Access Taxonomy

Describe model access along separate dimensions: weights, architecture, inference code, training code, data information, documentation, license rights, restrictions, acce

Aug 4, 20261 min readBy Dalton Anderson
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Open Model Access Taxonomy

Describe model access along separate dimensions: weights, architecture, inference code, training code, data information, documentation, license rights, restrictions, acceptable use, redistribution, modification, output use, commercial terms, hosting options, and reproducibility.

"Open weight" means parameters are available under stated terms. "Open source AI" should be reserved for systems that meet an identified definition, such as the Open Source AI Definition 1.0, after reviewing the required components and freedoms.

Do not infer rights from download access or a marketing label. Read the exact license for the exact artifact and use case.

Sources

Follow the evidence.

  1. Introducing Llama 3.1ai.meta.com
  2. ai.meta.com: the llama 3 herd of modelsai.meta.com
  3. cloud.google.com: prompt design strategiescloud.google.com
  4. daltonanderson.ghost.io: unlocking llama 3 1 metas open source ai revolutiondaltonanderson.ghost.io
  5. docs.cloud.google.com: tune modelsdocs.cloud.google.com
  6. docs.cloud.google.com: rag quickstartdocs.cloud.google.com
  7. docs.nvidia.com: benchmarkingdocs.nvidia.com
  8. genai.owasp.org: owasp top 10 for llm applications 2025genai.owasp.org
  9. Meta Llama models repositorygithub.com
  10. github.com: LICENSEgithub.com
  11. github.com: MODEL CARDgithub.com
  12. github.com: USE POLICYgithub.com
  13. github.com: PurpleLlamagithub.com
  14. huggingface.co: modelshuggingface.co
  15. huggingface.co: model memory anatomyhuggingface.co
  16. open.spotify.com: 6DI2GolY5QTfflWBunE2xiopen.spotify.com
  17. opensource.org: open source ai definitionopensource.org
  18. owasp.org: www project top 10 for large language model applicationsowasp.org
  19. NIST AI Risk Management Frameworknist.gov
  20. NIST: Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework, Generative Artificial Intelligence Profilenist.gov
  21. youtu.be: gg2I5iO1x0oyoutu.be

From this episode

Two useful next steps.

Guide · 1 min

How to Read and Operationalize an AI Model License

Turn AI model license terms into artifact records, use boundaries, attribution, redistribution, acceptable-use controls, owners, evidence, and release gates.

Guide · 1 min

Prompt, RAG, Fine-Tune, or Distill an LLM?

Choose prompting, retrieval, fine-tuning, or distillation by measuring the failure, knowledge needs, labeled data, latency, rights, risk, and operations.

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