Bertelsmann Stiftung and Open Future Present a New White Paper on Public AI
Gütersloh, May 20, 2025 – In today’s society, the most powerful AI systems are developed and controlled by a handful of private companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta, and DeepSeek. This concentration of power not only poses a technological challenge, but also a political one. Who should be responsible for designing systems that have a significant impact on our society?
In response to this imbalance, Bertelsmann Stiftung, with the support of Open Future, has released a new white paper on Public AI. This publication presents a strategic and actionable framework for an alternative approach to the development and application of AI. The proposed model is based on principles of transparency, open access to critical infrastructure, and a focus on the common good.
According to the white paper, societies should not only use AI, but actively shape it. This does not mean rejecting private innovation, but rather rebalancing the dynamics of power. It is necessary to ensure that AI is not only safe for public use, but also that there is shared responsibility for its development and application through democratic structures.
The white paper sets an ambitious goal of ensuring the existence of at least one complete open source model with AI capabilities that rival those of leading proprietary systems. This would allow public actors to have greater control and influence in the use of AI. To achieve this, the paper outlines three key recommendations:
1. Development and fortification of complete open source models and the open source ecosystem
2. Creation of public computing infrastructure to support the development and use of open models
3. Scaling investment in AI skills to attract skilled workers to develop and apply these models
To further support the implementation of these recommendations, the white paper also proposes three policy intervention paths along the structure of the AI stack: computing power, data, and models. These paths include measures such as establishing public computing capacities, developing high-quality data sets as digital commons, and promoting an ecosystem of open source models with long-term financial and infrastructure support.
Additionally, the white paper introduces a strategic tool for evaluating and managing AI initiatives, called the “Gradient of Publicness.” This framework allows political decision-makers to classify existing and new projects along a spectrum from private to public and take concrete steps to increase the public benefit.
While the concept of Public AI offers a realistic and necessary alternative to the dominance of private actors, it requires strategic investment, institutional coordination, and political will. The white paper aims to spark an international debate on the role of AI as a public endeavor.
For more information, please contact:
Felix Sieker, Phone +49 30 275788-156, Email: felix.sieker@bertelsmann-stiftung.de
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