The Commons Approach: A Proposal for a Digital Humanist Agenda to (Re)Open Artificial Intelligence

This paper argues that for AI to serve the public interest, it must be aligned with the principles of open science and open knowledge. We propose concrete actions that Digital Humanism can advance in higher education, research, and policy to ensure AI development respects human rights, ethical responsibility, and democratic accountability. Existing open infrastructures offer blueprints for transparent and sustainable AI, supported by the communities and institutions that maintain them. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors, Digital Humanism can help guide the digital ecosystem – currently centered on AI – toward long-term sustainability and development in the public interest.