Hugging Face CEO vows to keep fighting for open-source AI after Jensen Huang’s exit

Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue expressed his disappointment over Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's departure, stating it was a "really sad day." The acquisition of Hugging Face by Nvidia for $12.9 billion in September marked the second-largest acquisition in Nvidia's history, following the $20 billion purchase of Groq's assets in December 2025.

Despite the acquisition, Delangue emphasized his commitment to open-source AI, vowing to fight for it harder than ever, highlighting the "too important" nature of the cause in the face of potential slowdown. Huang, known for his strong advocacy of open-source AI and open-weight models, was a notable figure in this space. The U.S. Department of Justice initiated inquiries into the deal's impact on competition in the AI market after Nvidia's acquisition announcement.

While Nvidia assured the platform would uphold open support, it also aimed to secure a major distribution channel for AI models. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027. Delangue did not respond to requests for further comment on the deal status and whether Hugging Face has communicated with Nvidia's interim CEO, Collette Kress.

Huang's support for open-source and open-weight AI extends beyond Hugging Face. In July, he published an AI policy letter with 25 companies, urging the U.S. government not to over-restrict open-weight AI models. Huang also acknowledged the importance of open-weight models in expanding AI access, fostering competition, and providing customers with control over AI.