What we do
The Responsible AI initiative organizes its work around three complementary activities. Together they aim to keep the Apache projects that underpin modern AI secure and sustainable, while helping ASF communities adopt AI in a way that is open, transparent, and human-centered.
Leveraging
Many Apache projects are already deeply embedded in the AI ecosystem. The initiative helps these projects gain expanded access to AI models, tooling, and resources — for example, to support Foundation-wide efforts such as security scanning and triage — so they can remain secure, well-maintained, and governed in the public interest.
Innovating
The ASF has a long history of collaborative, vendor-neutral software development. The initiative encourages new, Foundation-led programs and supports emerging AI-focused projects, including through the Apache Incubator, so that open, community-governed approaches to AI can grow under the Apache License 2.0.
Educating
Open governance — the Apache Way — lets contributors around the world collaborate on a level, vendor-neutral playing field. The initiative shares good practices, helps projects navigate questions around licensing, provenance, and security, and works to lower the barrier for new communities adopting AI responsibly. Much of that guidance lives under Best practices.
Guiding principles
The initiative is grounded in the ASF's guidelines for the responsible use of AI:
| Principle | What it means |
|---|---|
| Human oversight | People remain accountable for what is contributed and released |
| Licensing integrity | Contributions respect open source licensing and provenance |
| Security | AI-assisted workflows must not weaken project or Foundation security |
| Documentation | Decisions and practices are recorded openly |
These reflect the ASF's longstanding philosophy of community over code.
Work streams
Volunteers currently organize around four work streams, each complementing the activities above.
| Work stream | Focus |
|---|---|
| Security | Helping Apache projects manage security risks and vulnerability workflows related to AI |
| Innovation | Supporting new AI-focused approaches and tooling across the Foundation |
| Policy | Guidance on licensing, provenance, and responsible-use questions |
| Education, adoption and outreach | Sharing good practices and helping communities adopt AI responsibly |
To join one, say so on the mailing list — see Get involved.
This page describes the initiative's current activities and will evolve as the work progresses.