China’s push for open-source AI models is gaining momentum, with Chinese companies like DeepSeek, Alibaba’s Qwen Lab, Moonshot AI, Z.ai (formerly Zhipu), MiniMax, and Tencent releasing high-quality models that are competitive with leading Western models.
The open-weight nature of these releases allows developers to download, run, study, and modify them, making it easy for others to adapt and improve upon the models. This trend has spread globally, with Silicon Valley startups using Chinese open-source models in over 80% of their projects.
Chinese companies are leveraging their vast talent pool and well-resourced tech industry to drive innovation and set standards. The success of DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model marked a turning point for Chinese AI, demonstrating that Chinese companies can deliver high-quality models at a fraction of the cost of Western proprietary systems.
As open-source AI models continue to improve, they will not just offer affordable access to frontier AI capabilities but also change where innovation happens and who sets the standards. The next wave of models is expected to be narrower and better, with specialized variants optimized for different uses, making it easier for developers to create customized solutions.
The adoption of Chinese open-source models is picking up in Silicon Valley, with companies like OpenRouter tracking usage data that shows Chinese models rising from almost none in late 2024 to nearly 30% of usage in recent weeks. The demand is also growing globally, with researchers and developers from around the world contributing to and benefiting from the open-source ecosystem.
However, the interdependence between China’s open-source ecosystem and those in the US means that export controls could become a challenge for both countries. As the competition intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Chinese companies will be able to maintain their competitive edge while adhering to international standards.
The success of Chinese open-source AI models is not just about cost but also about innovation and accessibility. With the help of open-source research breakthroughs, Chinese developers are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI, creating new opportunities for growth and development in the industry.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/12/1132811/whats-next-for-chinese-open-source-ai