Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI has launched AutoGLM Rumination, a free AI agent designed for tasks such as deep research, web searches, travel planning, and report writing. This move reflects the intensifying competition in China's AI sector, where companies are vying to establish dominance against global leaders like OpenAI. Powered by proprietary models like GLM-Z1-Air and GLM-4-Air-0414, AutoGLM Rumination claims superior performance, operating up to eight times faster than rivals while using significantly fewer computing resources. The product is accessible through Zhipu’s website and mobile app, providing free availability in contrast to competitors like Manus, which offers similar services at high costs.

Zhipu AI’s aggressive strategy is bolstered by substantial government funding, including a recent 300 million yuan ($41.5 million) investment from Chengdu. The company’s GLM series of models has gained recognition for outperforming OpenAI's GPT-4 on multiple benchmarks. CEO Zhang Peng emphasized the innovation behind their pricing strategy, highlighting advancements that have reduced operational costs while maintaining high efficiency. Zhipu’s focus on affordability and accessibility aims to broaden adoption among users and challenge the dominance of U.S.-based AI firms.

Founded in 2019 as a spinoff from Tsinghua University, Zhipu AI has rapidly grown into one of China’s leading AI startups. Its development of large language models (LLMs), including bilingual and multimodal variants, showcases its ambition to lead in artificial general intelligence (AGI). Zhipu operates on a Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform, enabling businesses to customize LLMs for specific needs while balancing open-source accessibility with proprietary rights. This approach reflects its commitment to fostering innovation while safeguarding competitive advantages.

The launch of AutoGLM Rumination comes amid a surge of Chinese AI releases following breakthroughs by competitors like DeepSeek and Manus. As AI agents become more integral to autonomous decision-making across industries, Zhipu’s free offering positions it as a significant player in reshaping the global AI landscape.