Italy's AI Advantage in 'Open Weights' Model Revolution
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang co-signed an open letter to Washington in July 2026, calling for no premature restrictions on downloadable artificial intelligence models. The document, titled 'Open Weights and American AI Leadership,' aims to prevent a crackdown on open-weight models that can be downloaded, inspected, adapted, and run on one's own infrastructure.
The signatories argue that the AI race will not be won solely by cutting-edge laboratories but rather by those who make it easier to roll out AI across ordinary sectors of the economy. They emphasize that 'open weight' does not automatically mean 'open source,' as under European law they are not the same.
The letter highlights the benefits of open weights, which allow even non-giant players to create value without constantly seeking permission from the API owner. This could be particularly advantageous for Europe and Italy in the AI sector, where they may not match the budgets of American frontier labs or China's aggressiveness.
Europe's real interest lies in entering the most economically attractive part of the value chain: fine-tuning, industrial integration, on-premises deployment, vertical applications, AI for manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, supply chain software, and public administration. Open weights make this participation more plausible by enabling small players to create value without relying on API owners.
However, the letter acknowledges that open-sourcing advanced models can make it easier to circumvent or remove risk mitigations. The European Commission emphasizes that a targeted regime focusing on risks and genuinely sensitive uses is necessary rather than a blanket crackdown on open models.
The AI Act distinguishes between models and systems, provides exceptions, sandboxes, codes of conduct, and phased implementation. But the culture in which it will be implemented poses problems: any margin of discretion can become an administrative burden, and any risk can lead to extended ex ante control.