Another chatbot company that wants to grab headlines and shake up the AI industry is Zhipu AI, a fast-growing Chinese artificial intelligence firm. It is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), possibly as soon as this year—though 2026 is more likely. The company has partnered with China International Capital Corp. (CICC) to lead the process and aims to file its application by October. If successful, Zhipu could emerge as a formidable challenger to ChatGPT and other U.S.-based AI chatbot platforms.
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Who Is Zhipu?
Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Tsinghua University, Zhipu has drawn investment from tech giants like Alibaba (BABA) and Tencent (TCEHY). In March, the company secured 1 billion yuan (approximately $140 million) from state-linked firms, signaling strong backing from the Chinese government. But Zhipu also faces headwinds: in January, it was added to a U.S. trade blacklist over alleged military ties – a charge the company denies. This designation could limit its access to key American technologies, a significant hurdle for any aspiring global AI player.
Zhipu’s IPO bid arrives amid an intensifying race among AI firms to release powerful yet affordable tools. Its flagship GLM language model series, including the latest open-source versions, boasts capabilities that rival OpenAI’s GPT-4 – at a fraction of the cost. The company recently launched AutoGLM, an AI agent designed to handle research, travel planning, and report writing. These moves underscore Zhipu’s strategy: deliver robust AI functionality while keeping prices low.
Lowering Costs and Changing the Game
This cost-disruptive approach is rippling across the chatbot and broader AI market. By undercutting competitors, Zhipu is pressuring major tech firms to lower their own AI service fees. In doing so, it is expanding access to advanced AI capabilities, especially for smaller businesses and independent developers previously priced out of the market.
The trend is reshaping what AI chatbots can do – and who can use them. As performance improves and costs fall, AI agents are evolving from simple chat tools into full-service digital assistants capable of handling complex, domain-specific tasks. This evolution is accelerating AI adoption across sectors like education, healthcare, customer service, and beyond.
Zhipu’s IPO could serve as a bellwether for other Chinese AI companies exploring public markets. More significantly, its focus on efficient, accessible AI may help redefine how chatbot technologies are developed, marketed, and deployed worldwide. As global competition heats up, the AI industry is likely to see faster innovation—and more widespread use—on both sides of the Pacific.
Here are some of the notable traded companies employing AI chatbots:
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