In the near future, teams will assemble AI systems like web apps: a routing layer selects models, tools provide grounded actions, and retrieval supplies fresh context. Open models will thrive where transparency and extensibility matter most.
Expect smaller, specialized models to complement general LLMs—pluggable skill modules for code, legal, finance, or creative tasks. This separation of concerns reduces costs and increases reliability.
Open evaluation suites and shared benchmarks will keep vendors honest and highlight progress. Communities will coalesce around best practices for safe prompting, red-teaming, and rapid feedback loops.
As access broadens, open AI becomes a platform for education and innovation globally. The long-term benefit is not just cheaper inference—it's a more equitable and creative ecosystem.