Trust Issues in AI

This essay critiques the corporate dominance and opacity of modern AI models, arguing that trust requires transparency, public accountability, and incentives aligned with the public interest. Drawing parallels to the internet’s evolution, it contends that AI’s military origins are less relevant than its current venture-capital-driven design, and highlights open, publicly developed efforts like BLOOM, BigCode, and SEA-LION as more trustworthy alternatives. The authors call for investment in AI as public infrastructure to ensure openness, accountability, and societal benefit beyond profit motives.