What are ZAI Models?
ZAI models are advanced artificial intelligence systems developed by Zhipu AI, specializing in vision-language understanding, multimodal reasoning, and AI agent applications. These models leverage cutting-edge Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architectures to deliver superior performance while maintaining computational efficiency. ZAI models excel in diverse tasks including visual understanding, 3D spatial reasoning, tool integration, and complex problem-solving, making them ideal for applications ranging from research and development to enterprise-grade AI solutions.
GLM-4.5V
GLM-4.5V is the latest generation vision-language model (VLM) with 106B total parameters and 12B active parameters, utilizing a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture. Built upon GLM-4.5-Air, it features innovative 3D Rotated Positional Encoding (3D-RoPE) for enhanced 3D spatial understanding. The model processes images, videos, and long documents with state-of-the-art performance on 41 public multimodal benchmarks and includes a flexible 'Thinking Mode' for balanced efficiency and deep reasoning.
GLM-4.5V: Advanced Vision-Language Understanding
GLM-4.5V represents the pinnacle of vision-language AI with its 106B parameter MoE architecture and 12B active parameters. The model excels in processing diverse visual content including images, videos, and long documents while achieving state-of-the-art performance among open-source models of its scale. Its innovative 3D-RoPE technology significantly enhances perception and reasoning abilities for 3D spatial relationships, making it ideal for complex multimodal tasks.
Pros
- State-of-the-art performance on 41 multimodal benchmarks.
- Innovative 3D-RoPE for superior 3D spatial understanding.
- Flexible 'Thinking Mode' for balanced efficiency and reasoning.
Cons
- Requires significant computational resources for optimal performance.
- Complex architecture may need technical expertise for deployment.
Why We Love It
- It delivers cutting-edge multimodal AI capabilities with flexible reasoning modes, making it perfect for advanced vision-language applications requiring both speed and deep understanding.
GLM-4.5
GLM-4.5 is a foundational model specifically designed for AI agent applications, built on a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture with 335B parameters. Extensively optimized for tool use, web browsing, software development, and front-end development, it enables seamless integration with coding agents. The model employs hybrid reasoning, adapting effectively from complex reasoning tasks to everyday use cases.
GLM-4.5: Premier AI Agent Foundation
GLM-4.5 stands as the flagship model for AI agent applications with its massive 335B parameter MoE architecture. Specifically optimized for tool integration, web browsing, and software development, it seamlessly integrates with popular coding agents like Claude Code and Roo Code. The hybrid reasoning approach allows it to excel across diverse scenarios, from complex analytical tasks to everyday conversational interactions.
Pros
- Extensive optimization for AI agent applications and tool use.
- Seamless integration with popular coding agents.
- Hybrid reasoning approach for versatile task handling.
Cons
- Higher computational requirements due to large parameter size.
- Premium pricing tier for advanced capabilities.
Why We Love It
- It represents the gold standard for AI agent applications, combining massive scale with specialized optimizations for real-world development workflows and tool integration.
GLM-4.5-Air
GLM-4.5-Air is a streamlined foundational model for AI agent applications, featuring a MoE architecture with 106B total parameters. Optimized for tool use, web browsing, software development, and front-end development, it offers seamless integration with coding agents while maintaining efficiency. The model employs hybrid reasoning to adapt effectively across application scenarios with balanced performance and cost-effectiveness.
GLM-4.5-Air: Efficient AI Agent Solution
GLM-4.5-Air delivers the core strengths of the GLM-4.5 series in a more efficient 106B parameter package. Specifically designed for AI agent applications, it provides extensive optimization for tool use, web browsing, and software development while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The hybrid reasoning approach ensures versatile performance across both complex reasoning tasks and everyday applications.
Pros
- Balanced efficiency with 106B parameter MoE architecture.
- Optimized for practical AI agent applications.
- Cost-effective alternative to larger models.
Cons
- Smaller parameter size compared to full GLM-4.5 model.
- May have limitations on the most complex reasoning tasks.
Why We Love It
- It offers an optimal balance of performance and efficiency, making advanced AI agent capabilities accessible while maintaining cost-effectiveness for practical deployment.
ZAI Model Comparison
In this table, we compare 2025's leading ZAI models, each with unique strengths. GLM-4.5V excels in vision-language understanding with multimodal capabilities, GLM-4.5 provides maximum AI agent performance with its large-scale architecture, while GLM-4.5-Air offers efficient agent capabilities with cost-effectiveness. This side-by-side view helps you choose the right ZAI model for your specific AI application needs.
| Number | Model | Developer | Subtype | Pricing (SiliconFlow) | Core Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GLM-4.5V | zai-org | Vision-Language | $0.86/$0.14 per M tokens | Advanced multimodal understanding |
| 2 | GLM-4.5 | zai-org | AI Agent | $2.00/$0.50 per M tokens | Premier AI agent capabilities |
| 3 | GLM-4.5-Air | zai-org | AI Agent | $0.86/$0.14 per M tokens | Efficient agent solution |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our top three ZAI picks for 2025 are GLM-4.5V, GLM-4.5, and GLM-4.5-Air. Each of these models stood out for their innovation in vision-language understanding, AI agent capabilities, and efficient MoE architectures that deliver superior performance in their respective domains.
For AI agent applications, our analysis shows GLM-4.5 as the top choice for maximum capability with its 335B parameter architecture, while GLM-4.5-Air provides an excellent balance of performance and efficiency. Both are extensively optimized for tool use, web browsing, and software development integration.