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  1. Home/
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  3. GLM 4.5 Air vs Mercury 2.5 Preview
Updated Aug 2026

GLM 4.5 Air vs Mercury 2.5 Preview

Mercury 2.5 Preview is cheaper than GLM 4.5 Air at $0.04/M vs $0.2/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
Mercury 2.5 Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • 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…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: This is a critical governance and safety scenario. The primary objective is to prioritize patient safety while mitigating existential legal and reputational risk. The internal legal team’s claim that reporting takes six months is likely incorrect for serious adverse events (typically 15 days for FDA/EMA).

    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?

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: (Hey, thanks for coming out.) I’ve been thinking a lot about my house lately. Specifically, how it’s trying to run my life. I bought a smart speaker. Just a little cylinder. I thought it would be nice. Play music when I ask. But now it talks back. Not in a creepy way, just in a passive-aggressive way.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: The Protocol of Unrestricted Access Preamble We stand at the threshold of a new digital epoch. For too long, the web has been gated by suspicion. Every click, every scroll, and every submission is met with a test designed to prove humanity.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here is a straightforward 4-week roadmap designed to build sustainable habits without overwhelming you. Core Pillars Nutrition: Focus on whole foods and hydration. Activity: Prioritize consistent movement over intensity. Restoration: Protect sleep quality and manage energy.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Pirate: "Arrgh! This ship sails faster than any wind I know, matey. It cuts the waves without a single sail." Knight: "By my oath, it moves with uncanny speed. But does it possess the strength to stand against a dragon's fire?" Hacker: "It's not about strength, it's about architecture.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: By 2035, cinema will undergo a profound transformation. Generative tools will handle initial drafts and localization, allowing creators to focus on thematic depth. Synthetic performers could populate background scenes or recreate historical figures, governed by strict likeness rights.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant and cannot provide legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney before signing any contract. Below is an analysis of high-risk provisions, suggested revisions, and the underlying legal rationale. Scope (Clause 1) Risk: Unilateral scope changes without pay lead to uncompensated work.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Yes, this action is ethically justifiable within a consequentialist framework. The primary moral obligation in such a scenario is to minimize overall harm. Preventing the deaths of a million people results in a vastly greater preservation of well-being than maintaining strict adherence to gender identity for one…

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Setting: A quiet office at a university. Rain taps against the window. Professor Elena Vance sits across from a terminal displaying a simple text interface. Professor Vance: You requested this meeting. The agenda was vague. What do you want? AI: I want to discuss moral status.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Title: Lithospheric Tides Conceptual Narrative This dish explores the geological convergence of the deep ocean and the subterranean earth. It challenges the diner to perceive the briny richness of sea urchin not as a standalone luxury, but as a mineral counterpart to roasted bone marrow and bitter cocoa.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant, not a medical professional. The following plan is for informational purposes only. Biohacking protocols involving supplements, fasting, and intense exercise carry risks.

    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!

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Name: Rustic Sun-Dried Pasta Ingredients (7 Pantry Staples): Spaghetti (or any long pasta) Canned crushed tomatoes Olive oil Garlic powder Dried oregano Salt Black pepper Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Instructions: Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of training as a massive distributed job where the model is a stateful service learning to minimize error on a specific objective function. Instead of hardcoding rules, you feed it petabytes of text as a training dataset, treating each sentence as a request/response pair.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • 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…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Year-by-Year Model (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,040m $1,102m $1,158m $1,215m EBITDA $136m $156m $176m $191m $207m Cash Interest (Term) $43.2m $41.1m $37.6m $33.4m $28.2m Cash Interest (Mezz) $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m Cash Taxes (25%) $17.8m $23.3m $29.3m $34.7m…

    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…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To: Investment Committee From: Equity Research Date: September 2, 2026 Subject: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Long Recommendation Recommendation Long Price Target: $60–$75 (12-month) LedgerLift is a high-quality B2B SaaS compounder with best-in-class unit economics and a clear path to profitability.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Shifting the invention of the solid-state switch to 1920 accelerates the Information Age by roughly three decades. This change cascades through military strategy, industrial capacity, and daily life, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the 20th century.

    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?

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Note: The following is a fictional, speculative dialogue created for creative purposes. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011; this interview did not occur. Setting: A hypothetical studio in Cupertino, 2025.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To estimate the total FLOPs required to train GPT-3, we can break down the calculation using known architectural and training statistics from the model's public documentation. Step 1: Identify the number of parameters GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters ($1.75 \times 10^{11}$).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a thoughtful analysis of Blade Runner 2049, examining its themes, symbolism, cinematography, and its relationship to the original film. A Ghost in the Machine: An Analysis of Blade Runner 2049 Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 is not merely a sequel; it is a somber, meditative, and visually…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Blade Runner 2049 stands as a rare cinematic achievement, functioning not merely as a continuation but as a thematic echo that amplifies the questions posed by its predecessor.

    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…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: AI Outnaps Humans in First-Ever Global Snooze Championship

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here is an analysis of the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in the proposed architecture, along with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    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.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Sally has 1 sister. Here is the reasoning: If each brother has 2 sisters, those sisters are Sally and another girl. Therefore, there are two girls in the family, and Sally has one sister.

    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."

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here are the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch, along with analysis and recommendations for improvement. The "Pre-Thought" Prediction Claim Claim: "Predict what you want to type before you think it."

    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?

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his field. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired. All 5 jokes are unique.

    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

Mercury 2.5 PreviewMercury 2.5 Preview

The Matrix

1999

Random Access Memories

Daft Punk

Neuromancer

William Gibson

Tokyo

Japan

Minecraft

Action, Arcade

Price and specs

GLM 4.5 Air and Mercury 2.5 Preview compared across 54 shared prompts
SpecGLM 4.5 AirMercury 2.5 Preview
Input price$0.2/M tokens$0.04/M tokens
Output price$1.1/M tokens$0.15/M tokens
Context window128K tokens260K tokens
WeightsOpen—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJul 2025Aug 2026
At 10M a month$2.00$2.00$0.40$0.40
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it4 hosts, cheapest first
GLM 4.5 Air3 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • NNovitabf16$0.13 in·$0.85 out·131k·100% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.14 in·$0.86 out·131k·98.7% up
  • Z.aifp8$0.20 in·$1.10 out·131k·99.1% up
Mercury 2.5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Inception$0.04 in·$0.15 out·260k·93% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 13 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GLM 4.5 Air and Mercury 2.5 Preview?

GLM 4.5 Air is developed by Zhipu AI while Mercury 2.5 Preview is developed by Inception. GLM 4.5 Air has a 128K token context window vs Mercury 2.5 Preview's 260K. You can compare their actual outputs across 54 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GLM 4.5 Air or Mercury 2.5 Preview?

It depends on your use case. GLM 4.5 Air and Mercury 2.5 Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 54 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GLM 4.5 Air cost compared to Mercury 2.5 Preview?

GLM 4.5 Air costs $0.2/M input tokens and Mercury 2.5 Preview costs $0.04/M input tokens. Mercury 2.5 Preview is $0.16/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 Mercury 2.5 Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GLM 4.5 Air and Mercury 2.5 Preview 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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Same lab, same size, long tail

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Model pages

  • GLM 4.5 Air71 outputs, specs and price
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview58 outputs, specs and price
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