OSI (Open Semantic Interchange)

OSI – Open Semantic Interchange – a 2025 open-source initiative aiming to create a universal semantic data framework for all companies to standardise their fragmented data definitions with an open, vendor-neutral specification. In this starting era of AI agents, fragmented data definitions remain one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption, making a shared open standard essential to ensuring semantic consistency. OSI establishes a shared semantic standard so all AI, BI, and analytics tools can “speak the same language,” giving companies the flexibility to adopt best-of-breed technologies without losing consistency in metrics or business logic.

Without a shared semantic specification, data and AI teams often spend weeks reconciling conflicting definitions or duplicating work across platforms. By standardising how semantics are defined and exchanged, OSI hopes to ensure data is governed, consistent, and context-rich, enabling more accurate, trustworthy AI insights and faster adoption.

The OSI was set up by ThoughtSpot and Snowflake alongside Alation, Salesforce, BlackRock, dbt Labs, RelationalAI and severalcother suppliers.