Zhipu AI (HKEX: 2513) Jumps 14.16% on Report of Custom AI Chip Development for GLM Models

Zhipu AI shares skyrocketed 14.16% during intraday trading on July 8, 2026. The stock, listed as Knowledge Atlas Technology, touched HK$1,838.00 by 10:45 AM GMT+5. That marked a gain of HK$228.00 over the previous close of HK$1,610.00. The rally follows a report that Zhipu AI is exploring a custom AI chip for its GLM model family. The Information first reported the chip talks on July 7, 2026. Here’s what is driving the move, and why it matters for Zhipu AI’s long-term outlook.

Why Zhipu AI Shares Jumped 14.16%

Zhipu AI shares climbed to HK$1,838.00 during Wednesday’s intraday session in Hong Kong. That price reflected a 14.16% gain, worth HK$228.00, from the prior close of HK$1,610.00. The rally builds on Tuesday’s initial reaction to the custom chip report.

• Intraday price: HK$1,838.00, as of July 8, 2026
• Intraday gain: +14.16%, or HK$228.00
• Previous close: HK$1,610.00
• Stock: Knowledge Atlas Technology (HKEX: 2513)

Zhipu AI would join Google, OpenAI, Alibaba, and ByteDance in building proprietary AI silicon. That group already uses custom chips to cut reliance on outside GPU suppliers.

What The Custom Chip Report Reveals

Zhipu AI is reportedly considering an application-specific integrated circuit, or ASIC, for GLM models. Unlike general-purpose GPUs, ASICs handle one workload type at lower operating costs. The Information said a proprietary chip could reduce Zhipu AI’s dependence on outside suppliers.

• Chip type under review: ASIC, optimized specifically for GLM models
• Estimated build timeline: more than two years
• Current compute stack: Huawei Ascend chips, other Chinese silicon, and limited Nvidia inventory
• Next milestone: selecting a chip design partner

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) faces a modest headwind here, since Chinese labs increasingly avoid its GPUs. Every successful transition to domestic ASICs shrinks Nvidia’s addressable market in China.

GLM-5.2 Demand Is Driving The Chip Push

GLM-5.2 usage surged as much as 27 times within its first week on Vercel’s aggregator platform. That explosive demand collided directly with tightening U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductors. Zhipu AI’s compute needs quickly outpaced its available Nvidia GPU inventory.

• GLM-5.2 daily token usage: up to 27x in week one
• Trigger: surging demand plus constrained Nvidia chip access
• Zhipu AI’s current model: fastest-growing model on Vercel’s aggregator platform

U.S. export controls have made Nvidia’s most capable chips harder to source for Chinese AI labs. That constraint turned compute availability into a binding limit, not just a cost concern.

IMO, CXMT is probably the most important company in the Chinese AI ecosystem and more so than any model developer, chip designer or data center hardware supplier. China's AI capabilities are directly proportional to how well it does in HBM segment.https://t.co/wC5mdvcgIz

— Dhiraj (@IndustrlPolicy) July 8, 2026

Zhipu AI’s Stock Performance This Year

Zhipu AI’s stock has moved dramatically since its Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut on January 8, 2026. Shares listed at HK$116.20 and later touched an all-time high of HK$1,993.00 on May 29, 2026. Wednesday’s HK$1,838.00 intraday price sits well within that broader 2026 rally.

• IPO price: HK$116.20 on January 8, 2026
• All-time high: HK$1,993.00 on May 29, 2026
• Intraday price, July 8, 2026: HK$1,838.00

JPMorgan and Bank of America both turned bullish on Zhipu AI following the GLM-5.2 launch last month. JPMorgan raised its target price to HK$1,400, while Bank of America initiated coverage at HK$1,250. Zhipu AI’s market capitalization has topped HK$1 trillion during recent trading sessions.

Final Thoughts

Zhipu AI’s 14.16% intraday jump on July 8, 2026, reflects growing investor confidence in its chip independence push. The custom ASIC report signals a longer-term shift away from reliance on Nvidia hardware. GLM-5.2’s 27-times demand surge, paired with tightening export controls, makes that shift increasingly urgent. Investors watching Zhipu AI, Nvidia Corporation, and China’s broader AI chip sector should track the eventual design partner announcement closely.

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.