China's Zhipu AI Unveils Free AutoGLM Rumination Agent Amid Domestic Tech Race

Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI, a spinoff from Tsinghua University founded in 2019, has launched its free AI agent, AutoGLM Rumination. Powered by proprietary models GLM-Z1-Air and GLM-4-Air-0414, the agent can carry out tasks such as web searches, travel planning, and research report writing while operating faster and using fewer resources than competing solutions.

The rollout, reported on March 31, 2025, comes in the wake of a series of industry moves by rivals like DeepSeek and Manus, who have been emphasizing cost-effective and general AI capabilities. Recently bolstered by significant government-backed investments—including a notable $41.5 million injection from Chengdu and additional state-funded rounds—the development signals Zhipu AI’s push to outperform competitors such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and expand its influence in China's fast-evolving technology market.