Nvidia-Backed Reflection to Launch Open-Weight AI Model, Challenging US and Chinese Rivals

Nvidia-backed startup Reflection is preparing to release an open-weight AI model aimed at competing with both Chinese open-source systems and leading U.S. closed models from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google, according to Axios. The model, expected soon, will initially trail top U.S. frontier systems but rival China's best open-weight offerings. Reflection's ultimate goal is the "AI factory," enabling institutions to combine proprietary data with its models and rented Nvidia compute to build cheap, customized AI systems. The startup has signed deals with Nebius and SpaceX to lease Nvidia servers and announced a sovereign AI partnership with South Korea's Shinsegae Group. The launch comes as open-weight models — most powerful ones Chinese-made — gain share on multi-model platforms, though they remain a small fraction of enterprise API spending. CEO Misha Laskin said reaching top capabilities takes time. A Reflection spokesperson declined to comment.