China Surpasses US in Downloads of Open-Source AI Models, Study Finds

November 26, 2025

China has overtaken the United States in the global market for open-source artificial intelligence models, according to a new study by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform.

The study found that Chinese developers accounted for 17 percent of downloads of newly released open AI models over the past year, compared to 15.8 percent from American developers such as Google, Meta, and OpenAI. This marks the first time that Chinese models have been downloaded more than U.S.-developed models in the open-source AI market.

Open AI models, which developers can freely download, modify, and integrate into new technologies, are central to innovation in artificial intelligence. These models enable startups to build products without starting from scratch and allow researchers to analyze and improve upon existing tools.

The growth in open-source model downloads from China highlights a strategic shift. While leading U.S. firms including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have favored closed AI systems that limit modification and redistribution, Chinese developers are increasingly adopting openness in model development.

The rise in Chinese participation in open AI innovation could give the country a stronger voice in global discussions around the ethical, technical, and commercial directions of AI technologies.

Source: Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/8f187958-4461-42a3-90a8-3fecdb27155e?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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