Charted: How Often Do Industries Use Open Source AI Models?

Using open-source AI models means the system’s code and documentation are publicly available, allowing anyone to use or modify them freely.

In some industries, this path is exactly what is driving growth. It’s also transforming how AI becomes accessible worldwide.

Across industries, 63% of organizations use open-source AI models, with technology, media & telecommunications leading at 70%, financial & professional services at 62%, and healthcare & life sciences at 51%.
By region, India leads globally with 77% open-source AI adoption, followed by the UK at 66% and the US at 62%.
60% of respondents report lower implementation costs with open-source AI compared to proprietary alternatives.

The industries leading open-source AI adoption are those closest to high-performance computing and innovation cycles.

Advanced industries (75%) and the TMT sector (70%) show the most substantial uptake because they rely heavily on rapid iteration, customizable models, and lower cost structures.

Financial and professional services (62%) also stand out, reflecting their need for flexible AI tooling that can be audited, adapted, and scaled for analytics-heavy workflows.

The low adoption of open-source AI models in industries such as health care and the public sector may be due to regulatory constraints.

Although slower digitization and higher risk thresholds can also be factors.

These sectors tend to adopt AI more cautiously, relying on proven proprietary systems before transitioning to open-source alternatives.