Nvidia Launches Free Lightweight AI Model That Runs on a Single GPU, Taking Aim at OpenAI and Anthropic

Aug 12, 2026
CNBC
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Summary

Nvidia launches Nemotron 3.5 Lightning, a free, open-source AI model that runs on a single GPU, directly challenging OpenAI and Anthropic while companies like CrowdStrike and Harvey are already putting it to the test.

Key Points

  • Nvidia releases Nemotron 3.5 Lightning, a lightweight open-source AI model that runs on a single GPU and is free for companies to download, use, and modify.
  • CEO Jensen Huang publicly champions open-source AI, arguing it boosts chip sales and hardware demand while spurring competition against proprietary models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
  • The model, built using distillation techniques and designed for autonomous AI agents, is already being tested by companies like CrowdStrike and Harvey, and is available on HuggingFace and Nvidia's website.

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