GLM-4 from ZhipuAI is one of the most impressive AI models to come out of China — and it deserves far more attention in the Western AI community than it currently gets.
After testing the latest GLM models extensively, here's my honest assessment.
What Is GLM-4?
GLM (General Language Model) is developed by ZhipuAI, a company spun out of Tsinghua University. The GLM series represents China's most advanced publicly available large language models.
The latest generation includes:
- GLM-4 — the flagship model for complex reasoning and generation
- GLM-4-Flash — ultra-fast, low-latency version for real-time applications
- GLM-4V — multimodal version with vision capabilities
- GLM-Z1 — specialized reasoning model
Key features:
- 128k context window (extendable)
- Native Chinese and English bilingual training
- Open weights available for research use
- Strong tool-use and function-calling capabilities
Performance Testing
Reasoning & Logic
GLM-4 performs impressively on structured reasoning tasks. My test results:
- Math benchmarks: Strong performance, particularly on Chinese math competition problems
- Logical deduction: 79% accuracy on my standard test battery
- Code reasoning: Excellent — understands what code does before modifying it
The model shows particularly strong performance on tasks where systematic, step-by-step thinking is rewarded.
Coding
GLM-4 is a genuinely excellent coding assistant:
- Handles Python, JavaScript, Go, C++ fluently
- Good at debugging with clear explanations
- Strong at algorithm problems and data structures
- Can handle multi-file projects with enough context
For Chinese developers especially, GLM-4 excels because it can explain code concepts in Chinese with technical precision that most Western models can't match.
Chinese Language
This is where GLM-4 has a clear competitive advantage. It understands:
- Classical Chinese literary references
- Chinese internet slang and contemporary usage
- Technical Chinese terminology across domains
- Regional dialect-influenced writing styles
No Western model comes close for Chinese-language tasks.
Multilingual Performance
Beyond Chinese and English, GLM-4 handles Japanese and Korean reasonably well. European languages are functional but not its primary strength.
GLM-4 vs Competitors
| Metric | GLM-4 | GPT-4o | Claude Fable | |--------|-------|--------|-------------| | Chinese Language | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | | Reasoning | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | | Coding | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | | Speed | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | | Price | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | | Open Source | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Access Options
ChatGLM (consumer app):
- Available at chatglm.cn
- Free tier with daily limits
- Mobile app available
ZhipuAI API:
- Pay-per-token pricing
- Very competitive rates vs OpenAI
- Free API credits for new users
Open Weights:
- Smaller GLM models available on Hugging Face
- Can run locally with sufficient hardware
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Best Chinese-language AI model available
- Strong reasoning and coding capabilities
- Very competitive pricing
- Open weights option for researchers
- Fast response times with Flash variant
Cons:
- Less ecosystem integration than OpenAI
- English writing style slightly less natural than Claude
- Smaller global community and fewer tutorials
- Vision capabilities still catching up to GPT-4V
Who Should Use GLM-4?
- Chinese-English bilingual users — clear first choice
- Developers wanting cost-effective API access
- Researchers needing open-weight models
- Businesses operating in Chinese markets
- Anyone looking for a capable alternative to OpenAI with competitive pricing
Final Verdict
GLM-4 is a serious, production-ready AI model that punches well above its weight in Western comparisons. For Chinese-language tasks, it's unmatched. For general English use, it's competitive with the best models on the market.
The open-weight availability and aggressive pricing make it especially attractive for developers and researchers.
Rating: 8.4/10
Tested June 2025.