A growing debate is emerging around OpenAI's approach to proprietary AI models versus open-source alternatives. OpenAI has faced criticism for its closed-source strategy, with some suggesting that embracing open-source could enhance competition and innovation. The discussion has intensified following the release of DeepSeek's R1, an open-source reasoning model comparable to OpenAI's o1 but developed at a fraction of the cost using more efficient training methods. DeepSeek's decision to open-source its model is attributed to both economic and cultural factors, as well as the need to build trust in Western markets. The commoditization of large language models (LLMs) is also highlighted, with open-source options offering significantly lower costs compared to proprietary solutions like OpenAI's. For instance, DeepSeek R1 costs $7 per million output tokens via Together AI, compared to $60 per million output tokens for OpenAI o1. While OpenAI remains a leader in the field, the rise of open-source models is reshaping the competitive landscape, prompting questions about the future of proprietary AI.