Interconnects (Nathan L.)Jun 1, 2026, 1:03 PMNathan Lambert

Open and closed models are on different exponentials

The article asks where marginally higher model intelligence creates value, and where it does not.

Nathan L. argues that open and closed models are developing along different exponential curves. The key question is whether marginal gains in model intelligence translate into practical value. Some use cases may reward small capability improvements, while others may not benefit proportionally from additional intelligence.

In this Interconnects article, Nathan L. puts forward a central observation: open models and closed models are developing along different exponential curves. The article's focus is not simply comparing which type of model is stronger, but rather asking under what circumstances marginal improvements in model intelligence can actually translate into real value. For some tasks, even a small increase in model capability can make a significant difference; but in other situations, the additional intelligence does not necessarily bring commensurate benefits. This perspective reminds readers that when discussing open versus closed models, one cannot look only at a single capability metric, but must also consider whether the use case truly requires higher intelligence, and whether the marginal improvement is worth the cost invested. Since the source content provided contains only the title and subtitle, with no specific models, data, cases, or complete argument listed, it is not possible to further determine how the author defines the two curves, which tasks are most affected, or the actual gap between open and closed models.

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