Swiss AI Initiative launches Apertus, a fully open foundation model built by EPFL, ETH Zurich, and CSCS. The project promises open weights, data, and code, documenting every training step. Apertus draws a parallel to open source, offering a transparent alternative for developers seeking reproducible AI for enterprise applications and research initiatives worldwide in the future.

Apertus meets EU AI Act standards by respecting opt‑outs, stripping personal data, and preventing memorization. Its 8‑parameter and 70‑parameter variants match the scale of top open models while remaining fully compliant. This design makes the framework a global foundation for building trustworthy multilingual services from day one across different industries and domains today and tomorrow.

From the outset, Apertus trains on more than 1,000 languages, positioning it as an immediate tool for global deployment. Swisscom serves as a strategic partner, ensuring the model integrates smoothly into existing Swiss telecom infrastructure. Developers can access the entire pipeline through an open‑source repository, simplifying adoption and fostering community contributions across developers worldwide today.

The initiative’s open‑science ethos means every weight and training script is publicly documented, allowing researchers to verify results and iterate rapidly. By aligning with EU regulations and offering competitive performance, Apertus lowers barriers for organizations seeking compliant, multilingual AI. The Swiss AI Initiative’s release signals a shift toward truly open, regulated foundation models for the future of AI development in Europe.