AT&T says open models now account for about 25% of its overall AI usage, including network management, as the telecom company pushes to reduce AI costs and keep tighter control over proprietary data. Chief Data and AI Officer Andy Markus said AT&T still uses closed, proprietary models today, but eventually wants open models to power 70% to 80% of its total AI usage. He said moving from closed models to open ones has already produced savings of 80% to 90% in certain applications, underscoring why companies are increasingly weighing lower-cost open alternatives even as they face a fast-changing field of competing models.