The Value of Open Source AI for APEC Economies

Following the initial study on the economic and workforce impacts of open source AI, LF Research partnered with Meta on a series of literature reviews to capture its impacts across various geographic regions. As the third instalment, this report reviews its adoption in, benefits to, and impacts on economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Through analysis of industry, academic, and LF Research reports, as well as expert dialogues in 11 different economies, this study provides important context for the APEC region. Key findings include: Significant adoption & investment rates: APEC economies show strong AI investment through R&D activities, signaling long-term national prioritization. Economic benefits through productivity gains: AI is estimated to provide productivity boosts ranging from billions to trillions of USD to each economy through 2038. Localization through open source: Open models enable APEC economies to build AI infrastructure that reflects local culture, circumstances, and competitive advantages, offering strategic independence. Sector-specific insights: manufacturing, healthcare, and education emerged as key areas for open source AI to drive growth; disaster relief needs make open source AI critical for economies such as Viet Nam and Thailand; and agriculture-rich economies such as Indonesia are relying on OSAI applications to improve operations and supply chain. After showcasing the rich qualitative findings from the 11 expert dialogues, the study concludes with a handful of policy recommendations for this region.