Snowflake, in collaboration with Salesforce, BlackRock, dbt Labs, RelationalAI, and several other partners, has launched the Open Semantic Interchange (OSI), an open-source initiative designed to address one of the most persistent challenges in data management: fragmented semantics. The project introduces a vendor-neutral semantic model specification that standardizes how business logic is defined and exchanged, aiming to bring consistency across AI and business intelligence (BI) applications.
Christian Kleinerman, EVP of Product at Snowflake, emphasized the initiative’s importance for AI adoption. “With the Open Semantic Interchange initiative, we are proud to be leading the charge alongside our partners to solve a foundational challenge for AI — the lack of a common semantic standard. This initiative reflects the industry coming together, not competing, to solve shared challenges and build a more connected, open ecosystem for all,” he said.
Southard Jones, Chief Product Officer at Tableau, described OSI as a breakthrough for interoperability. “By co-leading the Open Semantic Interchange with Snowflake and our partners, we’re building the foundation every AI agent and BI application needs: a common semantic framework that preserves meaning across platforms,” he explained.
The initiative is also being welcomed by practitioners and industry leaders who see it as a way to streamline operations and accelerate innovation. Ryan Segar, Chief Product Officer at dbt Labs, noted that the standard will help teams work more effectively by ensuring consistency and reliability in data interpretation. From the financial services sector, Diwakar Goel of BlackRock highlighted its strategic importance: “We are excited to be part of the Open Semantic Interchange to help establish a common, vendor neutral specification that will not only streamline data exchange but also accelerate the adoption of AI and business intelligence applications across the financial industry.”
By aligning multiple stakeholders under a shared specification, the Open Semantic Interchange aims to function as the “Rosetta Stone for business data”, enabling seamless integration between disparate systems and reducing friction in deploying AI-driven insights. This collaborative push signals a broader industry commitment to openness, interoperability, and standards-driven growth in the AI era.
