TL;DR: ChatGLM Video (智谱清影, also known as Ying) is Zhipu AI's text-to-video and image-to-video generation tool, capable of producing short AI-generated video clips from text descriptions or reference images.
Official Website: Visit ChatGLM Video | Tool Page: ChatGLM Video details & alternatives
What is ChatGLM Video?
ChatGLM Video (智谱清影) is an AI video generation tool developed by Zhipu AI, the company behind the GLM series of large language models. Part of Zhipu's broader AI ecosystem (which includes the ChatGLM chatbot), this tool focuses specifically on generating short video clips from text prompts or reference images. It leverages Zhipu's CogVideoX model architecture, which has shown competitive performance against international alternatives like Runway Gen-3 and Pika in video quality benchmarks. The tool supports both Chinese and English prompts and is accessible through Zhipu's platform.
Getting Started
Step 1: Access the Platform
- Visit ChatGLM Video or access through Zhipu AI's main platform
- Create an account with email or phone number
- New users typically receive free generation credits
Step 2: Generate Your First Video
- Enter a text description of the video you want to create
- Optionally upload a reference image to guide the visual style
- Select video duration and aspect ratio
- Click generate and wait 1-3 minutes for the result
Core Features
Text-to-Video Generation
- Generate video clips from natural language descriptions
- Chinese and English prompt support
- Multiple aspect ratios (16:9, 9:16, 1:1)
- Consistent motion and scene coherence
Image-to-Video
- Animate a still image into a video clip
- Maintain visual consistency with the source image
- Add motion direction and camera movement controls
Video Capabilities
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 6 seconds per clip |
| Resolution | Up to 720p / 1080p |
| Frame Rate | 24-30 FPS |
| Model | CogVideoX architecture |
| Languages | Chinese and English prompts |
API Access
- Developer API for programmatic video generation
- REST endpoints with JSON request/response
- Batch generation support for multiple videos
- Webhook callbacks for asynchronous processing
Tips for Best Results
- Write detailed, specific prompts — describe the scene, subject, motion, lighting, and camera angle
- For image-to-video, use high-quality source images with clear subjects
- Include camera movement keywords like "slow pan left" or "zoom in" for cinematic effects
- Generate multiple variations of the same prompt and select the best one
- Use Chinese prompts for scenes with Chinese cultural elements — the model understands context better
Pricing
ChatGLM Video uses a credit-based system. New users receive free credits for initial experimentation. Additional credits are available through Zhipu AI's paid plans, with pricing varying by video resolution and duration. API access follows a pay-per-generation model.
Try ChatGLM Video
Ready to generate AI videos? Visit ChatGLM Video's official website to start creating, or view ChatGLM Video details, alternatives & reviews for ratings, alternatives, and user reviews.
FAQs
How does ChatGLM Video compare to Runway Gen-3?
ChatGLM Video's CogVideoX model is competitive with Runway Gen-3 in motion coherence and visual quality. Runway offers more editing features and longer clips. ChatGLM Video has an advantage with Chinese-language prompts and cultural content understanding.
Can I use the generated videos commercially?
Check Zhipu AI's current terms of service. Commercial usage terms may vary depending on your plan tier.
What is CogVideoX?
CogVideoX is Zhipu AI's open-source video generation model architecture. It has been released with open weights and has gained attention in the research community for its quality-to-compute ratio. The platform version may use enhanced versions beyond the open-source release.
Can I generate videos longer than 6 seconds?
Individual generations are limited to short clips. For longer content, you would need to generate multiple clips and edit them together externally.
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Last updated: February 2026
