Nvidia, the world's top chipmaker, has released a series of advanced open-source AI models known as Nemotron 3, along with supporting data and tools for engineers. This move positions the company as a more serious player in AI model development beyond its hardware dominance. The initiative underscores Nvidia's push for open-source AI success amid competition from rivals' silicon in closed models.
Nvidia has built its fortune by supplying high-performance chips to companies advancing artificial intelligence. On December 15, 2025, the chipmaker announced a significant expansion into AI model creation with the release of Nemotron 3, a family of cutting-edge open models. These models are designed to be accessible, accompanied by datasets and engineering tools that facilitate their use and customization.
This development marks Nvidia's intent to foster the growth of open-source AI. As closed-source models from competitors like OpenAI and Google increasingly leverage silicon from Nvidia's rivals—such as those from AMD or Intel—Nvidia appears to be strategically supporting open alternatives that align with its hardware ecosystem. The Nemotron 3 models aim to provide robust performance in areas like chatbots and other AI applications, potentially broadening Nvidia's influence in the software side of AI.
While Nvidia remains primarily a hardware leader, this release signals a deeper involvement in the end-to-end AI pipeline. Engineers and developers now have resources to build upon these models, which could accelerate innovation in open-source AI projects globally.
