Nvidia is best known for making powerful chips. These chips sit inside computers that train and run artificial intelligence. For years, Nvidia has been the quiet engine behind many AI tools people use every day. Now, the company is making a very clear move into open source AI.
This week, Nvidia did two big things. First, it bought a company called SchedMD. Second, it released a new set of open AI models called Nemotron 3. These moves show that Nvidia wants to play a bigger role, not just in selling chips, but in shaping how AI is built, shared, and used.
This post explains what Nvidia did, why it matters, and what it means for developers, companies, and the future of AI. Everything is written in very simple words.
What open source AI really means
Open source means the code is open for anyone to see, use, and improve. You do not have to pay to access it. You are free to study how it works. You can also build on top of it.
In AI, open source is a big deal. Many AI systems today are closed. You can use them, but you cannot see how they work inside. Open AI models are different. They give developers more control, more trust, and more freedom.
Nvidia has been slowly moving toward open source AI for years. This week’s announcements make that move much bigger and much louder.
Nvidia buys SchedMD, the company behind Slurm
The first big move is Nvidia buying SchedMD. This company builds Slurm.
Slurm is open source software that helps manage computing jobs. It decides which task runs first, where it runs, and how much power it gets. Slurm is used by supercomputers, research labs, and AI teams all over the world.
In simple terms, Slurm is like a traffic controller for very powerful computers. Without it, many AI systems would be slow, messy, or too expensive to run.
Nvidia said it will keep Slurm open source and vendor neutral. This means Slurm will not be locked to Nvidia hardware only. Anyone can still use it.
This is important. It shows Nvidia is not buying Slurm to close it off. Nvidia wants to make Slurm better and more widely used.
Why Slurm matters for AI
AI needs a lot of computing power. Training models takes days or weeks. Running them at scale takes careful planning.
Slurm helps manage all of this. It makes sure machines are used well. It lowers waste. It saves money.
Slurm already runs on more than half of the world’s top supercomputers. Nvidia says this software is now critical infrastructure for AI.
By owning SchedMD, Nvidia can invest more in Slurm. It can improve how Slurm works with modern AI systems. It can help developers scale their work faster.
Nvidia releases new open AI models called Nemotron 3
The second big move is the release of Nemotron 3. This is a family of open AI models made for building AI agents.
AI agents are systems that can think through tasks step by step. They can plan, decide, and act.
Nemotron 3 comes in three main versions.
Nemotron 3 Nano is small and fast. It is good for focused tasks.
Nemotron 3 Super is built for teams of AI agents working together.
Nemotron 3 Ultra is made for harder problems that need deeper thinking.
Nvidia says these models are very efficient. That means they cost less to run and still perform well.
Why efficiency matters so much
Running AI costs money. Big models use a lot of power. They also need strong hardware.
If a model is efficient, more people can use it. Smaller teams can build tools. Companies can scale without huge bills.
Nvidia says Nemotron 3 works well on long tasks with many steps. This is key for real world AI use, not just demos.
Efficiency also matters for trust. Developers want models they can test, check, and tune. Open models help with that.
Competing in a changing AI world
Open AI models are growing fast, especially from China. Many Chinese labs are releasing open models that companies can use freely.
At the same time, some big US companies are thinking about closing their models. This creates a gap.
Nvidia is stepping into that gap. By offering open source AI models and tools, Nvidia is becoming a key open AI provider in the US.
This matters for governments, businesses, and researchers who want open and secure AI systems.
Why Nvidia is betting on open source
Nvidia makes money from hardware. The more AI people build, the more chips they need.
By supporting open source AI, Nvidia helps the whole ecosystem grow. More developers build tools. More companies deploy AI. More hardware gets used.
Nvidia is also betting on physical AI. This includes robots, self driving cars, and machines that act in the real world.
These systems need strong models and strong infrastructure. Open tools help speed up progress.
How Slurm and Nemotron work together
Slurm manages the computing work. Nemotron handles the thinking.
Together, they cover two key parts of AI. One controls the machines. The other powers the intelligence.
Nvidia says this makes it easier to build AI systems from start to finish. Developers can train, test, and run AI with fewer gaps.
This also lowers barriers. Teams do not need to stitch many tools together. They can rely on open systems backed by Nvidia.
What this means for developers and companies
For developers, this means more choice. You can use open models. You can inspect them. You can run them where you want.
For companies, this means lower risk. You are not locked into one vendor. You can test security. You can customize systems.
For the AI world, this means faster growth. Open tools spread faster. Ideas move quicker. Innovation speeds up.
The Bottom Line
Nvidia is no longer just the chip company behind AI. It is becoming a builder of open AI foundations.
By buying SchedMD and releasing Nemotron 3, Nvidia is sending a clear message. Open source AI matters. Infrastructure matters. Efficiency matters.
This move strengthens Nvidia’s position in the AI world. It also helps developers and companies build better systems.
The AI future will need power, trust, and openness. Nvidia is trying to provide all three.
Also Read:Google Launches Its Deepest AI Research Agent Yet on the Same Day OpenAI Dropped GPT-5.2
