Jensen Huang Backs 25-Firm Plea to Protect Open-Weight AI as Washington Weighs Curbs
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jul 24
Jensen Huang Backs 25-Firm Plea to Protect Open-Weight AI as Washington Weighs Curbs
3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jul 24
Summary
Jensen Huang used his first-ever X post to publish an open letter from about 25 companies, arguing the US should not impose “premature restrictions” on open-weight AI models.
The letter says open models widen access for startups and universities, improve security through broader auditing, and prevent a few companies from controlling a foundational technology.
It also defends distillation as a legitimate research method, pushing back as Washington debates restrictions on Chinese open-weight models such as Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 and probes claims it copied a US model.
The appeal exposes an industry split: Microsoft, Meta, IBM and Palantir signed on, while OpenAI and Anthropic were absent and have warned about risks from powerful Chinese open models.
The timing complicates US messaging because Xi Jinping has also cast China as the champion of AI “openness,” after 29 countries backed a Shanghai-based AI cooperation body.