NVIDIA's Huang Rejects AI Model Restrictions, Calls for Open Access to Chinese Models

Huo Xing Cai Jing reports that NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, in an exclusive interview with Axios on Tuesday, stated that U.S. companies should be “absolutely” allowed to use Chinese open-source AI models, directly challenging the blockade policies of the Trump administration and certain U.S. AI labs. Huang argued that the panic over Kimi K3 is a misreading, just like the sell-off triggered by DeepSeek in early 2025: cheaper open-source models will expand the AI audience and increase—rather than reduce—demand for chips, data centers, and computing power. “Free AI is good for hardware, good for chips, good for data centers,” he said. He also refuted claims that open-source models pose security risks, asserting that openness actually enhances security by enabling external researchers to examine models, expose vulnerabilities, and build defenses. He called on Anthropic to open its Claude Mythos model to “everyone.” Huang rejected the notion that China will outcompete U.S. companies, stating that the AI race has no finish line and that the U.S. and China will coexist for the long term. Hours after the interview, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said the government is reviewing whether Chinese AI models are stealing intellectual property and considering sanctions. Huang responded that knowledge distillation is fundamental to intelligence, and accountability should target violations—not the models themselves.