Chinese startup brand Zhipu launches GLM-4.5 with intelligent agent capabilities: All the details

Chinese AI startup Zhipu has launched its latest large language model, GLM-4.5, positioning it for intelligent agent applications. The new Chinese language model has drawn attention internationally, including from OpenAI, which recently acknowledged the company’s growing influence in securing domestic AI contracts.

Features

GLM-4.5 is designed for advanced AI agent use cases, which typically include task execution, autonomous decision-making, and multi-turn conversations with contextual memory. While full technical specifications were not disclosed in the release statement, the model is expected to offer improvements in understanding complex user intents, maintaining longer contextual histories, and supporting multi-modal functions.

The model builds on the GLM (General Language Model) series, which has been Zhipu’s primary contribution to China’s large language model development. GLM-4.5 likely includes optimizations for Chinese-language performance and applications in government and enterprise environments. Zhipu has previously focused on building models that balance general AI capabilities with specialized fine-tuning for domestic use.

China leads in LLM development

Zhipu's release adds to the growing list of large language models emerging from China. According to a recent report by state-run Xinhua News Agency, China has produced 1,509 large-language models as of July 2025. That places it ahead of all other countries, with Chinese companies accounting for roughly 40% of the 3,755 models released globally.

Zhipu’s move to open-source GLM-4.5 follows similar efforts by other Chinese firms such as Baidu, Alibaba, and SenseTime, who are all contributing models in the race to establish foundational AI technologies domestically. Open-sourcing models enables wider adoption and testing, often leading to faster iteration cycles and community-driven development.

Zhipu gained international notice in June when OpenAI mentioned the firm’s growing momentum in China’s AI ecosystem, particularly in public sector contracts. With the release of GLM-4.5, Zhipu continues to position itself as a key player in China’s AI landscape, balancing open innovation with government-backed deployment.