Mozilla has called on governments and policymakers to invest more heavily in open-source artificial intelligence (AI), arguing that it is essential for economic resilience and digital sovereignty.
Speaking ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Mozilla President Mark Surman said countries seeking to strengthen national resilience and reduce dependence on a handful of technology giants should prioritise open-source AI models.
“Open source AI is your path to both economic and digital sovereignty,” Surman said, urging leaders attending the summit to commit to meaningful investments in open AI ecosystems.
Mozilla, the organisation behind the Firefox browser, recently announced more than $1.4bn in commitments towards open-source AI, responsible technology startups and alternatives to dominant AI platforms.
Concerns over concentration
Mozilla executives warned that the AI landscape is becoming increasingly consolidated, with a small number of global corporations controlling access to powerful systems. According to the company, this concentration limits transparency, restricts competition and leaves users with little influence over how AI tools are developed or governed.
Chief Technology Officer Raffi Krikorian said decentralising AI would give users more control and encourage innovation tailored to local languages and cultures. “Technology should adapt to humanity, not the other way around,” he said.
The organisation argues that open-source AI allows systems to be inspected, modified and governed locally — a key factor for countries seeking digital independence.
AI meets culture
Alongside policy discussions, the Mozilla Foundation is launching a new cultural initiative titled ‘The Origin of Thought’ in partnership with G5A. The programme will explore how AI is reshaping creativity and storytelling in India’s film industry.
A session at The Oddbird Theatre in New Delhi will feature filmmakers Nikkhil Advani and Shakun Batra, examining AI’s growing role in cultural production.
Mozilla says open-source AI must remain central to global governance discussions, warning that without balance, the most advanced AI capabilities — and the value they generate — risk being controlled by a limited number of companies.
Through its participation at the summit, the organisation says it aims to promote an AI future that is open, accountable and shaped by the societies it serves.
