Z.ai shares surge 8% on new AI model running only on Chinese chips
Chinese AI firm Z.ai saw its shares rise 8% after announcing a new model, GLM-5.3-Flash, which it claims runs entirely on domestic Chinese semiconductors. The move highlights China's push for technological self-sufficiency amid ongoing U.S. chip export restrictions.
Why it matters
The successful deployment of AI models on domestic hardware could signal a significant shift in the global AI supply chain and reduce reliance on Western technology.
BEIJING — Chinese artificial intelligence company Z.ai released a new model Wednesday that the company claims uses entirely homegrown semiconductors to operate.
Called GLM-5.3-Flash, the low-cost version of Z.ai's flagship model ranks 10th on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, ahead of DeepSeek V4 Pro Max.
Z.ai's Hong Kong-listed shares climbed more than 8% in Thursday trading.
The company claimed it used 100,000 China-made chips to handle all online requests to use GLM-5.3-Flash, including when it was released on Aug. 20 under the code name "Ox Alpha." The model ranked first by usage in the last week on the global OpenRouter platform.
CNBC was unable to independently verify Z.ai's chip claims. The company declined to share details on which companies' chips it was using. Running an AI model requires less computing power than training a model.
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