Nvidia releases 9 open models, tools to accelerate AI development

'Nvidia released nine open models and NVQLink tools on Tuesday to accelerate AI development by connecting quantum and GPU computing for 17 quantum builders and nine scientific labs.

The release, announced at CES 2026, represents a significant expansion of Nvidia’s open-source AI ecosystem and a major step in its efforts to bridge emerging quantum computing architectures with its established GPU platforms. According to a post on the Fosstodon AI Timeline, the new **NVQLink** tools are designed specifically to connect quantum and GPU computing, with initial access provided to 17 quantum hardware builders and nine scientific research laboratories. This initiative aims to accelerate hybrid computing research by allowing developers to integrate quantum processing units (QPUs) with Nvidia’s GPUs for complex computational tasks. The move comes as the company continues to dominate the AI hardware market while navigating complex geopolitical and supply chain challenges, including U.S. chip production targets and export controls.

The nine open models include a range of generative AI and large language models, as reported by a post on the r/LocalLLaMA subreddit. These models are intended to provide developers with powerful, pre-trained foundations that can be fine-tuned for specific applications, reducing development time and computational costs. The release of the models and tools follows Nvidia’s recent technical advancements in GPU programming, including the new CUDA Tile IR Backend for OpenAI Triton that was detailed on the Nvidia Technical Blog on January 30. This backend is designed to optimize compiler performance for AI workloads.

Industry analysts see the open model release as a strategic counter to the growing ecosystem of open-source AI, which has been gaining traction among developers. The tools lower the barrier to entry for sophisticated AI development, potentially expanding Nvidia’s developer base and reinforcing the use of its hardware stack. The NVQLink initiative, in particular, positions Nvidia at the center of the nascent quantum computing software field, seeking to establish its GPUs and CUDA architecture as the standard classical computing partner for quantum experiments.

This announcement occurs alongside other major industry developments involving Nvidia. According to WCCFtech, CEO Jensen Huang recently met with TSMC founder Morris Chang in Taiwan, amid ongoing discussions about chip production capacity. Separately, Hacker News reported on Nvidia’s involvement in helping hone AI models later used by China's military, a claim the company has not publicly addressed. In a related business development, a post on Dev.to reported that a massive $100 billion deal between OpenAI and Nvidia is currently on ice, creating uncertainty for some AI developers. Furthermore, WCCFtech reported that China has granted import clearance for hundreds of thousands of Nvidia H200 GPUs, indicating strong continued demand for its hardware despite geopolitical tensions.