Open Source’s Massive Unfair Advantage in the AI Era

Presented by Maxime Beauchemin at OSA Con 2025.

As AI transforms how we build, scale, and interact with software, one thing is becoming clear: open source isn’t just keeping up—it’s leading. In this keynote, Max Beauchemin, creator of Apache Superset and Apache Airflow, unpacks why open source is uniquely positioned to dominate in the age of AI. From training data to developer velocity, open projects have structural advantages that proprietary vendors simply can't replicate.

Explore how LLMs "know" open source deeply, how AI-native workflows amplify OSS contributions, and why communities—not corporations—are becoming the new centers of gravity for software innovation. Whether you're a maintainer, contributor, or startup founder, this talk will reframe how you think about OSS and help you ride the wave instead of getting swamped by it.