Commons AI – 2026 Edition
Commons AI is an annual conference dedicated to a community based approach for AI. It will take place as part of the Future of Software Technologies event at the CNIT in La Défense (December 1–3, 2026).
Commons AI brings together people engaged in the study and/or support of digital commons who are exploring and working toward the creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a digital commons approach.
By “digital commons,” we mean a form of collective action that brings together a community of diverse actors, implementing governance rules to develop and sustain immaterial resources and maintain the community.
We adopt a broad understanding of openness and AI, not limiting it to Generative AI on the one hand. And recognising, on the other hand open technologies and open practices at different layers of the AI stack, including open source software, open weights, open data, open hardware, and open science (open digital artifacts).
A commons-based approach to Artificial Intelligence involves examining three key dimensions:
The resources involved in the AI stack, without limiting them to models and data.
The challenge is to consider the entire spectrum of AI technologies and applications, including the AI stack in its entirety (model, architecture, interface, data, standards), as well as the hardware component.
The governance rules applying to these resources and the community.
With the aim of ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of the whole, whether guided by the development of legal standards—such as new licenses or legal structures—or by established practices.
The ecosystem that develops, manages, maintains, and regulates these resources at various scales, along with the values it embodies.
Moving beyond the ideal of free circulation of resources sufficient to ensure their sustainability, this involves considering community dynamics and the social values embodied (integrity, transparency, environmental and social responsibilities, inclusivity, etc.), as well as the conditions for a sustainable commitment by stakeholders to make the efforts needed to maintain and develop them.
A collaboratively developed 2026 edition
Following the first edition in 2025, which brought together about fifteen speakers, this second edition aims—as part of a co-creation approach—to offer either workshops with 20-min talks that provide context and frame the issues and incorporate participatory reflection time with the audience, or 10-min sessions showcasing inspiring initiatives. The duration of each workshop will be adjusted according to the length of the event slots.
We are launching a call for proposals with several suggested themes listed below for guidance (and not as an exhaustive list).
Each proposal must be submitted by September 15, 2026 23:59pm CEST, via this form. We will then select and group the proposals to form the participatory workshops.
Proposed themes
Collateral effects of AI on open models
AI and Participatory Dynamics
The Material Dimension of AI and Commons Issues
Multi-level Public and Industrial AI Policies and Governance
Creation of Data Commons
Trust in AI
For a detailed overview of the topics, please refer to the call for proposals.
Would you like to support this event?
Would you like to become a sponsor ?
Call for Proposals
Organizing Committee
- Vincent Bachelet (Pantheon Sorbone/Inno3)
- Jeanne Brétécher (Social Good Accelerator)
- Ramya Chandrasekhar (CNRS/Open Knowledge Foundation, Université Paris Panthéon Assas)
- Manon Galle (ANCT Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires)
- Nicolas Jullien (IMT Atlantique/Marsouin)
- Elsa Le Duigou (DINUM)
- Cailean Osborne and Yann Lechelle (Probabl)
Coordination
Commons AI is coordinated by Inno3 (Célya Gruson Daniel and Benjamin Jean) with the support of Mehdi Medjaoui and the FOST team.
Pour en savoir plus
If you have any questions about the event, the call for proposals, or a specific request, please contact Célya Gruson Daniel by email at cgruson-daniel@inno3.fr