The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is coming to All Things Open with a track designed to connect developers with the big policy conversations shaping our ecosystem. This year’s State of the Source looks at Open Source from several perspectives. Hear about OSI’s priorities for 2027, get a practical introduction to Open Source licensing and compliance, and discuss Open Source sustainability. We’ll also explore the latest public policy developments affecting Open Source, examine the state of Open Source AI, and discuss how OSI can strengthen Open Source education and advocacy.
About All Things Open
All Things Open is one of the largest Open Source technology conferences in the United States, bringing together a technical and engaged audience of developers, engineers, community leaders, students, educators, executives, and other Open Source practitioners.
All Things Open 2026 takes place October 19–20 in Raleigh, North Carolina, part of the Research Triangle, one of the country’s leading centers for technology and Open Source innovation.
State of the Source schedule
OSI’s State of the Source track will take place on Tuesday, October 20, during the second day of All Things Open 2026. Join us for a full day of sessions examining the priorities, policies, technologies, and community conversations shaping the future of Open Source.
10:30 a.m. — The State of the Open Source Initiative
Duane O’Brien, Executive Director, Open Source Initiative
2026 has been an important year of transition for the Open Source Initiative, with a new Executive Director and multiple initiatives across licensing, policy, standards, Open Source AI, and more. In this session, Executive Director Duane O’Brien will present an overview of OSI’s plans for 2027 and provide an update on the organization’s mission, vision, and programs.
11:15 a.m. — Open Source Licensing 101
McCoy Smith
This essential session offers a practical introduction to the Open Source Initiative, the Open Source licenses it approves, and the broader categories into which those licenses fall. Participants will learn about the OSI license-review process, the Open Source Definition, and the Open Source AI Definition. The session will also introduce several prominent OSI-approved licenses and provide best practices, resources, and other useful information for working with Open Source software.
12:00 p.m. — Sharing is caring: Open data for Open Source compliance
Nick Vidal, Alyssa Wright, and Brian Duran
Open Source compliance depends on accurate data about millions of software components, yet organizations often duplicate efforts and build isolated datasets. ClearlyDefined offers a better approach: shared, community-verified open data about software-component provenance, licenses, and vulnerabilities. This collaborative model improves accuracy, reduces duplicated work, and enables compliance automation at scale.
1:30 p.m. — Is Open Source Dying? Short film and open discussion
Jonathan Starr, Nick Vidal
The idea that AI could bring about the end of Open Source is provocative, but it distracts from the real issue: sustainability. This short film and open discussion will explore how foundations, funding platforms, grants, and corporate contributions can evolve to support maintainers and build a more resilient Open Source ecosystem in the age of AI.
2:30 p.m. — The Latest on Public Policy and Open Source
Katie Steen-James
Open Source is making news at both the local and national levels. From openness in AI to age verification, Open Source—and what it means—is a pressing topic in capitals around the world. This session will outline the key public policy issues affecting Open Source today. Audience members will also have an opportunity to ask questions and raise additional policy topics of interest.
3:15 p.m. — The State of Open Source AI in 2026
Gabriel Toscano
Open Source is having a moment in 2026. Its growing prominence is breathing new life into debates about the standards, technical decisions, licenses, governance structures, and regulatory processes that shape technological development. This session brings together evidence-driven insights into what it means to build Open Source AI, who is developing these systems, and the data and licenses involved. It places these findings within the broader technical, institutional, and policy context surrounding AI.
4:00 p.m. — The OSI Must Do More When It Comes to Open Source Education and Advocacy
Ruth Suehle and Duane O’Brien
Debates around AI, digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and regulation are growing, but misconceptions about what Open Source means—and why the Open Source Definition matters—persist among developers, companies, policymakers, and the broader public. This session will explore where current education and advocacy efforts fall short, which audiences OSI needs to reach, and how OSI can strengthen its role as both the steward of the Open Source Definition and a leading voice for Open Source worldwide in an era of profound technological change.
Opening Convening for Open Source AI
Following All Things Open, the conversation will continue on October 21 with the Opening Convening for Open Source AI, organized by OSI in partnership with Duke University. The convening will bring participants together to explore key questions surrounding the application of Open Source AI, helping to seed OSI’s research agenda and advance the practical implementation of the Open Source AI Definition (OSAID). More information will be announced soon.
Join us in Raleigh
Whether you work in development, licensing, compliance, policy, AI, education, or community building, the State of the Source track offers an opportunity to understand the forces shaping Open Source and to take part in the conversation about what comes next.
Join OSI and thousands of Open Source practitioners at All Things Open in Raleigh on October 19–20. Can’t make it in person? Stay tuned: video recordings of the sessions will be made available following the event.