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  • November 2022 (Revised December 2024)
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Hugging Face (A): Serving AI on a Platform

By: Shane Greenstein, Daniel Yue, Sarah Gulick and Kerry Herman
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:25
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Abstract

It is fall 2022, and open-source AI model company Hugging Face is considering its three areas of priorities: platform development, supporting the open-source community, and pursuing cutting-edge scientific research. As it expands services for enterprise clients, which services should it prioritize? Will these projects be in line with Hugging Face’s volunteer community? Further, Hugging Face decided to remove a model uploaded by a contributor, due to the potential harm the leadership felt it could propagate. Was it the right decision?

Keywords

Community; Open-source; AI and Machine Learning; Product Development; Networks; Service Delivery; Research; Governance; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Information Industry; Technology Industry; United States

Citation

Greenstein, Shane, Daniel Yue, Sarah Gulick, and Kerry Herman. "Hugging Face (A): Serving AI on a Platform." Harvard Business School Case 623-026, November 2022. (Revised December 2024.)
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About The Author

Shane M. Greenstein

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • November 2024
    • Faculty Research

    Hugging Face (B): Growing AI and the Platform

    By: Shane Greenstein, Nicole Zelazko and Kerry Herman
    • November 2024 (Revised February 2025)
    • Faculty Research

    Hugging Face (A) and (B)

    By: Shane Greenstein, Nicole Zelazko and Kerry Herman
    • November 2022 (Revised December 2024)
    • Faculty Research

    Hugging Face (A): Serving AI on a Platform

    By: Shane Greenstein, Daniel Yue, Sarah Gulick and Kerry Herman
Related Work
  • Hugging Face (B): Growing AI and the Platform By: Shane Greenstein, Nicole Zelazko and Kerry Herman
  • Hugging Face (A) and (B) By: Shane Greenstein, Nicole Zelazko and Kerry Herman
  • Hugging Face (A): Serving AI on a Platform By: Shane Greenstein, Daniel Yue, Sarah Gulick and Kerry Herman
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