Alibaba's ModelScope and OSChina's MoArk compete as Chinese Hugging Face alternatives

The move comes as Nvidia acquires Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, highlighting the strategic importance of open-source model hubs. While Chinese regulators block foreign sites to control information, they tolerate AI labs bypassing these blocks to share models globally. Analysts note that China seeks to indigenize its AI software stack to avoid reliance on US-controlled infrastructure, which could be subject to regulatory bans or disruptions.

Despite the growth of domestic platforms, Hugging Face remains the preferred choice for many Chinese developers due to its larger library of over 3 million models. Developers cite the greater variety on the US platform as a key advantage. However, domestic sites are gaining traction by offering localized services, such as adapting models to run on Chinese-made chips, in response to US export bans on advanced AI hardware.