Zhipu AI Global Head Proposes Four-Level Classification Framework for AI Labs: If You Can't Be a Disruptor, Be a Philanthropist

Li Zixuan, Global Head of Zhipu AI (Z.ai), posted a classification framework for AI model competitions on X, dividing all AI labs into four categories based on their ambition levels. This framework aims to help the industry understand the positioning and development directions of different labs.

The four categories are: Disruptors (rewrite industry rules and define paradigm shifts), Powerhouses (stable providers of top benchmark results as reliable 'brain' suppliers), Specialists (irreplaceable for certain users due to speed, personality, or vertical domain advantages), and Philanthropists (seek presence through open communities and altruistic attitudes when unable to reach the first three levels). Li Zixuan summarized: 'The goal is always to climb up. If you can't reinvent the world, aim for top standards; if you can't win benchmarks, polish your unique skills; if you can't do anything else, be the one who gives.'