01What is GLM 5.2 and how does it work?

GLM 5.2 is a powerful new AI model from China that can create games, videos, websites, and even operating systems. It's open source, meaning anyone can use it freely and even for business. On many tests, it performs just as well as top models like Claude, and sometimes even better.

In this episode, Julian Goldie showed how he uses GLM 5.2 to build full 3D games, automate videos, and create a full agent operating system. The model works by taking a simple text prompt and turning it into a complete, polished result. For example, with one prompt, it can make a playable game or a fully edited video with b-roll, voiceover, and even an AI avatar.

02Key features of GLM 5.2

GLM 5.2 comes with several standout features that make it useful for both beginners and advanced users.

  • Open source with an MIT license, so you can use it commercially without restrictions.
  • Frontier-level intelligence that competes with leading models like Claude Opus 4.8.
  • Strong UI skills – it ranked first on the Design Arena for user interface tasks.
  • Agent-ready – it works with tools like Hermes Agent and Claude Code.
  • Multimodal creation – can build games, videos, websites, and full operating systems.

Julian noted that GLM 5.2 is available to all people on coding plans, so you can plug it into systems like Hermes Agent to build teams of agents. That’s a big advantage over Claude, which was banned at the same time.

03How to set up GLM 5.2

Getting started with GLM 5.2 is straightforward. Julian shared his method step by step.

  1. Sign up for a coding plan that includes GLM 5.2 access – it’s available to all users on those plans.
  2. Install the Hermes Agent or Claude Code environment if you want to combine models.
  3. Plug in GLM 5.2 as an agent in your system – you can chat with it directly inside Hermes or Claude desktop.
  4. Set up a workspace where GLM 5.2 can save the projects it builds.
  5. If you want automation, connect GLM 5.2 to a loop engineering system with a judge model for self-improvement.

Julian also mentioned using a free Chinese API called N2 to run Claude Code with GLM 5.2. This gives you a free way to test and build without extra cost.

04How to use GLM 5.2 with examples

Julian showed several examples of what you can do with GLM 5.2. One big example was building a full 3D game that looks like Minecraft. He typed a simple prompt, and GLM 5.2 created a playable game with textures and controls.

He also demonstrated making a video with one prompt. GLM 5.2 created the b-roll, wrote the script, added his voiceover, and even included an AI avatar. The result was a finished video ready to publish.

Another example was a full operating system inside the browser. GLM 5.2 built a notes app, a calculator, and a paint app – all with working menus like File and Edit. You can open, close, and save your work, just like a real OS.

To use GLM 5.2, you simply give it a clear goal. You can also combine it with Claude Code: Claude orchestrates the agents, and GLM 5.2 does the building. This collaboration lets you automate almost anything.

05GLM 5.2 vs Claude: test results

Julian ran several head-to-head tests between GLM 5.2 and Claude Opus 4.8. On many tasks, GLM 5.2 came out equal or even better. For example, in a 3D game test, GLM 5.2 produced a full, polished game while Claude’s result looked basic.

In a liquid particle simulation test – where thousands of particles slosh in a bowl when you tilt the mouse – GLM 5.2 worked beautifully. Claude Opus 4.8 couldn’t do it at all. Julian also said the website he tested was better built with GLM 5.2.

However, he noted that on some tests, Claude still performed better overall. But because GLM 5.2 is open source and open weights, it may soon overtake Claude. Julian was surprised that GLM 5.2 was more fun and easier to use on certain projects.

06Tips, limits, and mistakes to avoid

Julian shared practical advice for getting the most out of GLM 5.2. One key tip is to combine it with other models instead of relying on it alone. Using Claude to orchestrate and GLM 5.2 to build gives you the best of both worlds.

He also warned that 99% of people just build simple snake games or to-do lists, which don’t need frontier-level AI. To see real value, you need to aim for bigger projects like full systems or automated content pipelines.

Another mistake is ignoring the business potential. Julian showed a website built with GLM 5.2 that went from zero clicks to 72 clicks a day, and another to 222 clicks. He also created a faceless YouTube channel with AI avatar videos that grew to 6,600 subscribers – and the comments were positive.

07Who should use GLM 5.2 and why it matters

GLM 5.2 is for anyone who wants to build things with AI without being a coder. Julian himself is non-technical, yet he built full games, videos, and an operating system with it. It’s also great for business owners who want to automate content, SEO, and video creation.

The reason it matters is that GLM 5.2 is open and free to use commercially. While Claude models got banned from the market, GLM 5.2 is unlikely to face the same restrictions. That gives you a reliable, powerful tool you can count on.

Julian believes that with open weights, the community can keep improving it. He suggests using it in an agent operating system where multiple AI agents work together. This lets you automate entire workflows and even reduce the need to hire people – Julian hasn’t hired for months because of this.