币界网报道：Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI has raised over $340 million in its latest funding round, achieving a valuation of $2.78 billion as it positions itself to compete with OpenAI in the global AI market. The Beijing-based company, backed by major investors including Alibaba and Tencent, specializes in large language models and has recently launched its upgraded "ChatGLM3" series. Zhipu AI's global expansion plans include establishing an international headquarters in Singapore and forming partnerships with Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. The company's CEO Zhang Peng emphasized their focus on developing foundational models while collaborating with cloud providers and enterprise clients for industry-specific applications. This funding comes amid growing competition in China's AI sector, where Zhipu AI is emerging as a strong contender alongside other domestic players challenging US tech giants in artificial intelligence development.