In a notable development underscoring the escalating competition within China's artificial intelligence sector, Zhipu AI has introduced its latest innovation, AutoGLM Rumination, a complimentary AI agent. This strategic move positions Zhipu AI alongside a growing cohort of companies vying for prominence in the rapidly evolving AI market.

The unveiling of AutoGLM Rumination took place at a luncheon event in Beijing, where CEO Zhang Peng elaborated on the agent's extensive capabilities. According to Zhang, AutoGLM Rumination is engineered to conduct in-depth research and execute a variety of tasks, including web searches, travel planning, and the compilation of research reports. These functionalities are powered by Zhipu AI's proprietary models, specifically the GLM-Z1-Air reasoning model and the GLM-4-Air-0414 foundation model.

Zhipu AI asserts that its GLM-Z1-Air model not only matches the performance of DeepSeek's R1 but also operates at a significantly enhanced speed, reportedly up to eight times faster, while requiring only one-thirtieth of the computing resources. This claim highlights Zhipu AI's focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness in its AI solutions.

AI agents, characterized as systems capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution, have seen increased adoption across various industries. This surge in popularity was partly catalyzed by DeepSeek's introduction of a model that purportedly operates at substantially lower costs than its U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, competitor Manus generated considerable buzz with its launch of what it promoted as the world's first general AI agent.

In a move that distinguishes it from competitors like Manus, which charges users up to $199 per month, Zhipu AI is making AutoGLM Rumination available to users free of charge. This accessibility is facilitated through the company's official channels, including its GLM model website and mobile application.

Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from a Tsinghua University laboratory, Zhipu AI has rapidly ascended to become a leading AI startup in China. The company, renowned for developing the GLM series of models, asserts that its latest large language model, GLM4, surpasses OpenAI's GPT-4 on several benchmarks. This claim underscores Zhipu AI's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology and competing with global leaders in the field.

Earlier this month, Zhipu AI garnered significant attention after securing three consecutive rounds of government-backed funding within a single month. The most recent investment came from the city of Chengdu, which injected 300 million yuan ($41.5 million) into the company. This financial backing reflects the Chinese government's support for the development of domestic AI capabilities and its recognition of Zhipu AI's potential.