China’s AI Lab Zhipu Weighs Custom Chip As Demand for its GLM Model Soars

Zhipu AI, the Chinese AI lab behind the highly regarded GLM series of open-source AI models, is weighing designing its own AI chip as surging demand and U.S. export controls make computing resources a growing constraint, according to three people with direct knowledge of the plan.

The Beijing-based company, one of China’s leading AI labs, recently made preliminary inquiries with some Chinese chip design houses about the possibility of working on a bespoke AI processor optimized for running its models, according to two of the three people. The discussions are still at an early stage, and Zhipu has not selected a designer, according to the two people.