Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue has stated that large companies are abandoning the AI-as-a-service model. Instead of paying for every API call to external providers, they are opting for open-source models to run in-house. Hugging Face is currently used by about half of the Fortune 500. This trend is also relevant for Italian SMEs.
However, the phenomenon doesn't just concern large corporations. In fact, the same logic applies to mid-market companies that want data control, cost predictability, and vendor independence. Therefore, the choice between proprietary APIs and on-premise open-source models becomes a strategic decision, not just a technical one. In particular, it concerns data governance, budget, and internal expertise.
We of SHM Studio We are closely monitoring this transition. Consequently, we support clients in navigating the available options, evaluating which AI approach is most sustainable in the medium term. Finally, this article analyzes key numbers, operational implications, and the questions that every marketing or digital manager should ask themselves today.
Hugging Face as a thermometer of the AI market
In recent years, Hugging Face has become the global benchmark for those developing and deploying open-source AI models. The comparison to GitHub is no accident. Just as GitHub centralized code sharing, Hugging Face has done the same for machine learning models, datasets, and pipelines.
According to CEO Clem Delangue, in a recent interview on TechCrunch, around half of the Fortune 500 today uses the platform. This figure is significant. It indicates that the adoption of open-source AI is no longer a niche or experimental choice.
Therefore, the market is sending a clear signal: structured organizations prefer to control their own models. Unlike what happened just a few years ago, today the model
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