Open-weight AI models are changing the equation. Here’s what CIOs should experiment with next

For years, enterprise AI strategy has been dependent on a small set of proprietary, closed model providers, a limitation that has carried cost, lock-in and opacity. Now, open-weight models from Meta, Google and other global competitors are challenging that default. As of July 2026, open-weight models accounted for 36% of Vercel’s AI Gateway token volume, up from 11% in April, while share of spend more than doubled to 8.6%. Floyd DCosta and Allan Dabre have made compelling cases for greater enterprise control over AI, particularly for strategic and security reasons. I agree, but making the case