Fact · Voice and AI
OpenAI's README for Whisper says that its code and model weights are released under the MIT License, a permissive license that lets anyone use them, including for free.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“Whisper's code and model weights are released under the MIT License.”
openai/whisper: README (raw text), OpenAI, GitHub (openai/whisper), 2026, License section.
Open the original- What it measures
- The README is the project's own description of its license, read from the raw text of the repository on October 17, 2026. The license text itself, in the LICENSE file, grants permission to use, copy and modify the software free of charge.
- What it does not show
- This covers the Whisper project. An app that wraps Whisper can add its own terms, so check the license and privacy page of any app you install.