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

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.