Swiss AI Initiative unveils Apertus, a fully open sovereign AI foundation model with transparent data, code, and weights

The Swiss AI Initiative, led by EPFL, ETH Zurich, and CSCS, introduced Apertus as a fully open foundation model for sovereign AI. The project documents and releases training data, code, weights, methods, and alignment principles, while targeting EU AI Act compliance and multilingual support across 1,000+ languages.

Apertus reflects growing demand for nationally or regionally controlled AI infrastructure that is auditable, compliant, and less dependent on closed commercial platforms. Its emphasis on open science and regulatory readiness could make it a reference model for governments, universities, and enterprises seeking transparent AI systems.