The AI Effect on Open Source: A Game Changer for Adoption!
Earlier this week, Adam Wathan, creator of Tailwind CSS, shared startling news: 75% of his engineering team lost jobs due to AI’s impact on their business model. This sparked debate over the future of open source software (OSS).
However, here’s the twist: AI isn’t killing open source—it’s accelerating its adoption!
Key Insights:
- Record Growth: Tailwind CSS experienced a staggering 126% increase in downloads in 2025, highlighting OSS thriving against AI disruption.
- Complementary Forces: AI reduces barriers, making it easier for developers to adopt established libraries, which leads to increased utility usage and higher dependency counts.
- Adoption Data:
- Akka.NET: 36% YoY growth
- npm and PyPI: 70% and 87% growth respectively
This is a golden age for OSS as quality projects gain traction, while business models built on selling what AI can generate face challenges.
Join the conversation: Have AI tools changed your approach to open source? Let’s connect! Share and discuss your insights below!
