'Not An AI Fatalist': Mark Cuban Says Open-Sourcing Models Is A Smart Business Decision

In the latest episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and minority owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, endorsed open-sourcing artificial intelligence and labeled it a “smart business decision.”

What Happened: In the episode, which was posted over the weekend, Cuban discussed several topics, including open-sourcing AI, Shark Tank, the Wokeism debate, politics and drugs.

When Fridman asked him about his views on open-sourcing AI, the billionaire said, “I think that’s a smart choice, but it’s just a business decision for everybody else. I don’t think it should be forced.”

He went on to say that the AI industry is “incestuous,” with professionals sharing knowledge and attending the same conferences. Cuban added that as AI models become more efficient and cost-effective, more reasons to open-source them will exist.

When Fridman mentioned the potential dangers of AI, asking, "You don't see the parallels between nuclear weapons and AI," Cuban disagreed.

The billionaire said he is an AI optimist and believes there will be millions of models, each with expertise and licensing. "I think I'm not an AI fatalist at all, right? I'm an AI optimist, but it's not to say that there isn't a lot of scary s**t that can happen with it."

Why It Matters: Cuban’s stance on open-sourcing AI aligns with the ongoing debate in the tech industry. Previously, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen criticized “Big Tech AI” companies, saying that they are lobbying as a group to operate as a “government-protected cartel.”

“The only viable alternatives are Elon, startups, and open source — all under concerted attack by these same big companies and aligned pressure groups,” Andreessen said in February 2024.

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Earlier this year, Alphabet Inc.'s Google was also promoting responsible AI development through its lightweight open-source AI models. Last month, Elon Musk’s xAI also open-sourced its AI chatbot, Grok's code.

Last year, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey praised Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his open-source approach. At the time, Dorsey said, "I really respect the fact that he chose to open-source his large language model … we all have access to these technologies, and people can build on top of it."

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