Key facts
- Zhipu AI's stock surged as much as 48% on Monday after launching its GLM-5.2 large language model.
- The GLM-5.2 model will be available on an open-source basis and to users of the GLM Coding Plan subscription.
- The launch coincided with the U.S. government ordering Anthropic to suspend access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models.
- Zhipu AI's stock closed up 32.8% at HK$1,457, having risen nearly 820% since its January IPO.
- Analysts view Zhipu AI as a key alternative for users seeking options amid rising prices and geopolitical restrictions from Western AI providers.
Shares of Zhipu AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence pioneer, surged on Monday following the release of its latest and most powerful large language model, GLM-5.2. The Hong Kong-listed stock jumped as much as 48% in morning trading before closing up 32.8% at HK$1,457.
The release of GLM-5.2, which features a massive 1-million-token context window, coincided with a U.S. government order suspending access to Anthropic's flagship models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, due to national security concerns. This move by the U.S. Commerce Department, citing potential jailbreaking of the cybersecurity-optimized Mythos model, led Anthropic to disable both models globally.
Zhipu AI framed its GLM-5.2 launch as a response to geopolitical restrictions on AI access, stating that cutting-edge intelligence should not be exclusive. The model is available through Zhipu's GLM Coding Plan subscription, priced significantly lower than comparable Western offerings. The company also announced plans to open-source GLM-5.2 under the MIT license later this week.
Analysts are viewing Zhipu AI's move as strategic, positioning it as a strong alternative in the global AI market, particularly for users seeking value-for-money options as American providers increase prices. JPMorgan maintained its overweight rating and raised its price target to HK$1,400, while Bank of America initiated coverage with a buy rating and a target of HK$1,250.
Trading as Knowledge Atlas Technology, Zhipu AI has experienced a dramatic rise in its stock price, increasing nearly 820% since its initial public offering in January. The company's chairman, Liu Debing, has seen his fortune grow to an estimated $22.4 billion, making him one of China's wealthiest billionaires.