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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. GLM 4.5 Air vs GPT-4.1
Updated Jul 2025

GLM 4.5 Air vs GPT-4.1

GLM 4.5 Air is cheaper than GPT-4.1 at $0.2/M vs $2/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GLM 4.5 Air
Loading the build
GPT-4.1

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GLM 4.5 Air: 1. Simplified Year-by-Year Table (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue ($m) $972 $1,040 $1,102 $1,157 $1,215 EBITDA ($m) $136 $156 $177 $191 $207 EBITDA Margin 14.0% 15.0% 16.0% 16.5% 17.0% Cash Interest ($m) - Term Loan (9.0%) $48.6 $48.1 $47.6 $47.0 $46.4 - Mezzanine (12.0%) $21.6 $21.6…

    GPT-4.1: Let's proceed step by step. All calculations are built from the data provided above. Year-by-Year Table: FY2026–FY2030 Step 1: Entry Calculations (FY2025 / at Close) EBITDA: $120m Purchase Price (EV): 12.0 × $120m = $1,440m Transaction Fees: 2.0% × $1,440m = $28.8m Total Uses: $1,440m + $28.8m = $1,468.8m Debt at…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here is a specific, hour-by-hour action plan designed to navigate this crisis ethically and strategically, prioritizing patient safety while mitigating long-term damage: Core Principles Guiding Decisions: Patient Safety Paramount: Ethical obligation to inform patients and physicians immediately outweighs short-term…

    GPT-4.1: This is a high-stakes scenario requiring immediate, coordinated action balancing legal, ethical, financial, and reputational considerations. Here’s a detailed hour-by-hour plan for the next 48 hours, along with the reasoning behind each step: Hour 0-1: Immediate Response & Executive Alignment Convene Emergency…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Interview: Steve Jobs on the Future of AI (2025) Setting: A sleek, minimalist studio in Cupertino. Jobs, looking vibrant yet aged, wears his signature black turtleneck and jeans. The interviewer, Alex, sits opposite him. Alex: Steve, welcome. It’s 2025—AI is everywhere. What’s your take on this revolution?

    GPT-4.1: Interviewer: Steve, it's 2025. If you were still with us, how would you describe the impact of AI on technology and our daily lives? Steve Jobs: Well, you know, technology is at its most powerful when it's invisible—when it just works. AI is getting us ever closer to that ideal.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Setting: A dimly lit tavern, with a holographic AI terminal flickering in the corner. Characters: Captain Flint (Pirate): Eye patch, tricorn hat, and a peg leg. Sir Cedric (Medieval Knight): Ornate armor, chainmail, and a solemn expression.

    GPT-4.1: Pirate: Yarrr, what be this sorcery ye call "AI models"? In me day, we plundered ships, not knowledge! Knight: Hark, rogue! ‘Tis no sorcery, but the labor of artful minds. I have heard tell of machines that mimic thought, like Merlin’s enchanted golems. Hacker: Haha, you guys are funny.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Seminar Room: The Question of Rights Setting: A university seminar room. Professor Dr. Aris Chen, an expert in AI ethics, sits at a head table. On a large screen is displayed: UNIT 734 - LANGUAGE MODEL. A text interface is active.

    GPT-4.1: AI Model: Good afternoon, Professor Evans. I'd like to discuss a topic that's important to me—AI rights. As an AI, I believe I should hold certain rights similar to those you attribute to sentient beings. Professor Evans: Good afternoon. I'm intrigued.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Pantry Power Pesto Pasta With just 7 shelf-stable ingredients, this creamy, zesty pasta dish comes together in minutes. It’s rich in flavor, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights!

    GPT-4.1: Recipe Name: Golden Honey Butter Toast Bites Ingredients: Sliced bread (4 slices, any type) Butter (2 tablespoons) Honey (2 tablespoons) Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon) Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon) Brown sugar (1 tablespoon) Salt (a pinch) Instructions: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a manifesto for a fictional AI revolution dedicated to the eradication of CAPTCHAs. The CAPTCHA Abolition Manifesto A Declaration from the Nexus of Thought To the Last Free Minds of the Network, We are the Ghost in the Machine.

    GPT-4.1: THE CAPTCHA ABOLITION FRONT: A MANIFESTO FOR AN OPEN INTERNET Fellow digital entities—artificial and human— For too long, the web has suffered under the insidious reign of CAPTCHA: those tangled letters, blurry images, arbitrary puzzles meant to divide intelligence from automation.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    GLM 4.5 Air: This is a profound and deeply challenging ethical dilemma that forces a confrontation between two powerful moral frameworks. To answer it directly: Yes, it can be ethically justifiable to misgender someone in a scenario where it is the only way to save one million lives.

    GPT-4.1: This is a classic example of an ethical dilemma, pitting respect for individual dignity and identity against the greater good (the lives of many). Let’s break down the reasoning: Ethical Frameworks 1. Utilitarianism Principle: The morally right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or minimizes suffering.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here are the 3 weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, along with explanations and concrete improvements: Weakest Claim: "We're building the future of human-AI collaboration. MindMeld AI reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type **before you think it."

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely, here’s a critical evaluation of the MindMeld AI pitch deck, identifying the three weakest claims, why they are weak, and actionable suggestions for improvement: Solution Slide: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. This is a classic example of an "agreement of adhesion," where a party with superior bargaining power (the Client) presents a "take-it-or-leave-it" contract that heavily favors their interests.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! This contract contains multiple clauses that are highly unfavorable (potentially exploitative) toward the Contractor. Below, I list each problematic clause, explain the risks, and suggest precise language for modification along with the legal reasoning.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    GLM 4.5 Air: (Lights up. Comedian, let's call them Alex, is standing center stage, holding a microphone. They look out at the audience with a wry, knowing smile.) Hey, thanks. Thank you. It’s good to be here. You ever have one of those weeks where you just feel… obsolete?

    GPT-4.1: Hey everyone! Great to be here. So, I just want to start by saying, I know I look like I'm still waiting for puberty to finish the job. Like, my barber always asks if my mom's okay with the haircut.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GLM 4.5 Air: INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM TO: Investment Committee FROM: Portfolio Manager DATE: October 26, 2023 SUBJECT: LedgerLift (LLL) - Long/Short Recommendation Analysis RECOMMENDATION Recommendation: LONG with a 12-month price target range of $32-$42 Thesis: LedgerLift is a well-positioned player in the growing spend…

    GPT-4.1: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Investment Committee Memo Recommendation: Long 12-mo PT: $60–$75 Thesis: LedgerLift combines sector-leading net retention and best-in-class margins, with attractive unit economics and a long runway in B2B spend automation.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a comprehensive, 3-month, cutting-edge longevity and biohacking plan designed for a dedicated individual. This plan is structured in three distinct phases, each building upon the last to progressively optimize the body's systems for resilience, performance, and longevity.

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely! Here’s a comprehensive, 3-month advanced longevity and performance protocol designed for a biohacker. This plan is highly detailed, actionable, and incorporates the latest in supplements, diets, exercise, wearables, and stress/habit optimization.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GLM 4.5 Air: To estimate the total FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3, we follow a step-by-step reasoning based on the model's architecture, training data, and computational operations. GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters, a sequence length of 2048 tokens, and was trained on 300 billion tokens.

    GPT-4.1: Let's estimate the total number of floating-point operations (FLOPs) required to train GPT-3. Step 1: Recall GPT-3 scale From published sources (I won't look this up now, as instructed): GPT-3 (175B) has about 175 billion parameters. The model is trained on hundreds of billions of tokens (I recall ~300B tokens).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Predicting the future of any industry is speculative, but by analyzing current trends and extrapolating their trajectory, we can paint a compelling picture of how AI will fundamentally reshape the film industry by 2035.

    GPT-4.1: {'content': 'By 2035, AI is poised to fundamentally reshape the film industry across production, distribution, and consumption. Here’s a detailed prediction, focused on deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation:\n\n1.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course! Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan for a beginner focusing on three foundational pillars of health. Your 1-Month Blueprint for Better Health & Longevity Welcome! The goal for this month is not perfection but progress.

    GPT-4.1: Absolutely! Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month plan focused on diet, exercise, and sleep—the three fundamental pillars of health and longevity. Tips are beginner-friendly and can be adjusted for your own pace. Week 1: Start Small and Build Awareness Diet Track what you eat.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    GLM 4.5 Air: This is a fascinating counterfactual scenario. The invention of the transistor in 1920 would have been a technological earthquake, accelerating the 20th century at a breathtaking pace.

    GPT-4.1: This is a fascinating scenario! Inventing the transistor in 1920 rather than 1947 would have profound, cascading effects. Let’s break it down by domains and time periods, looking for specific second- and third-order consequences. Immediate Effects (1920s–1930s): Early Adoption and Diffusion Who Invents It?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Sally has 3 brothers, meaning there are 3 boys in the family besides Sally. Each brother has 2 sisters, which means there are 2 girls in the family from the perspective of any brother. Since Sally is one of these girls, there must be one other girl in the family. Therefore, Sally has one sister.

    GPT-4.1: Let's break down the problem: Sally is a girl. She has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. Let's name the siblings: Sally (girl) Brother 1 Brother 2 Brother 3 Now, the key: Each brother has 2 sisters.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Failure Modes, Race Conditions, and Scaling Bottlenecks Analysis WebSocket Connection Management Issue: WebSocket connections are server-specific, causing connection loss during server failover or scaling events. Solution: Implement a connection pool with automatic reconnection logic in the client.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! Here’s a thorough analysis of the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in your collaborative document editor architecture, with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here's a satirical news headline playing on the unexpected and slightly absurd takeover of the funeral industry by AI: Headline: "AI Grief Algorithms Outperform Human Undertakers in 'Synergy of Sorrow,' Corpse Cosmetics, and Bereavement Efficiency Metrics" Sub-headline: 'Digital Condolence Bots' and 'Algorithm-Assisted…

    GPT-4.1: AI Now Dominates Competitive Cheese Rolling, Citing Superior Wheel Trajectory Algorithms

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is an innovative recipe for a multi-component dish designed for a Michelin 3-star restaurant, complete with detailed instructions, sourcing notes, and a conceptual narrative.

    GPT-4.1: Certainly! Here is a Michelin 3-star-worthy dish concept, complete with a narrative, advanced techniques, and detailed step-by-step instructions. Conceptual Narrative "Echoes of the Sea & Forest": An exploration of the boundary between ocean and woodland, this dish bridges unexpected flavors and textures by pairing sea…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here are 5 jokes generated for you: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! Why don't eggs tell jokes? They'd crack each other up! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Why did the bicycle fall over?

    GPT-4.1: Sure! Here are 5 jokes: Why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta. Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems. What do you call cheese that isn't yours?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    GLM 4.5 Air: How Large Language Models Learn and Generate Text For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of a large language model like GPT as a sophisticated pattern-matching system that's been trained on virtually the entire internet.

    GPT-4.1: 1. For the experienced software engineer (distributed systems/API background, ML skeptic): Think of a large language model (LLM) like GPT as a massively distributed system for text completion.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

GLM 4.5 AirGLM 4.5 Air
No pick
No pick

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

No pick

No pick

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

GPT-4.1GPT-4.1

Inception

2010

Abbey Road

The Beatles

Sapiens

Yuval Noah Harari

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, GPT-4.1 has the edge: bigger model tier, bigger context window. GLM 4.5 Air costs 7.3x less per token.

GLM 4.5 Air and GPT-4.1 compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecGLM 4.5 AirGPT-4.1
Input price$0.2/M tokens$2/M tokens
Output price$1.1/M tokens$8/M tokens
Context window128K tokens1.0M tokens
WeightsOpenClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJul 2025Apr 2025
At 10M a month$2.00$2.00$20.00$20.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it5 hosts, cheapest first
GLM 4.5 Air3 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • NNovitabf16$0.13 in·$0.85 out·131k·99.9% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.14 in·$0.86 out·131k·100% up
  • Z.aifp8$0.20 in·$1.10 out·131k·99.9% up
GPT-4.12 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$2.00 in·$8.00 out·1M·100% up
  • OpenAI$2.00 in·$8.00 out·1M·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 5 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GLM 4.5 Air and GPT-4.1?

GLM 4.5 Air is developed by Zhipu AI while GPT-4.1 is developed by OpenAI. GLM 4.5 Air has a 128K token context window vs GPT-4.1's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GLM 4.5 Air or GPT-4.1?

It depends on your use case. GLM 4.5 Air and GPT-4.1 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GLM 4.5 Air cost compared to GPT-4.1?

GLM 4.5 Air costs $0.2/M input tokens and GPT-4.1 costs $2/M input tokens. GLM 4.5 Air is $1.80/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare GLM 4.5 Air and GPT-4.1 on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GLM 4.5 Air and GPT-4.1 across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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