"In today's increasingly digitised world, software has become deeply embedded in many areas of life. This is particularly true for artificial intelligence systems and AI-powered digital assistants and bots. As this software gains more capabilities and influence on people's lives, the question of how it is developed and made available is an important ethical issue.

Open-source software, where the source code is freely available for anyone to access, modify, and share, has many benefits. It allows for rapid innovation, as people can collaborate and build on each other's work. It also decentralises control, allowing many individuals and organisations to contribute, rather than a single company controlling all software. However, for complex and powerful software like AI systems, open development also introduces risks and ethical concerns.

With open AI software, there is a greater possibility of systems being misused or weaponised for malicious purposes like fraud, spam, or cyber-attacks. When many people can access and modify code, it is harder to ensure accountability and fix responsibility if there are negative consequences or unintended behaviour from AI systems. For AI assistants and bots, the implications of open development are significant as these systems become an interface for people to access digital services and information. If many organisations or individuals are building such assistants, it may be harder to guarantee principles of privacy, security, and safety are respected.

On the other hand, closed-source AI software developed solely by private companies also raises ethical issues. It concentrates power and profit in the hands of those companies, and opens up possibilities for bias or lack of transparency in algorithms and training data. Ideally, a balance could be struck between the benefits of open collaborative development and the need for responsibility and accountability. Some possibilities include open-source software with certain safety-critical components remaining restricted, or private-public partnerships where companies work with researchers and regulators. Overall, as software and AI systems gain more power in a digitising society, grappling with the ethics of how these technologies are built and distributed will be crucial."
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