Definition ∞ Model Distribution refers to the process of sharing or deploying a trained machine learning model to various users, applications, or devices for inference. This involves packaging the model, its necessary dependencies, and potentially its associated data for operational use in diverse environments. In secure AI systems, careful consideration is given to protecting the model’s intellectual property and ensuring its integrity during transfer and deployment. It facilitates the practical application of AI across different platforms.
Context ∞ The discussion around model distribution is relevant to AI security and intellectual property, particularly when proprietary or sensitive models are shared or sold. Its situation involves developing secure methods to distribute models while preserving their confidentiality and preventing unauthorized replication or tampering. A critical future development includes cryptographic techniques, such as secure multi-party computation or homomorphic encryption, to enable privacy-preserving model sharing. News often reports on new AI platforms or methods for secure model deployment.