01What is Tencent HY3 and How Does it Work?

Tencent HY3 is a new open source AI model from China that is available for free through an API. It is designed mainly for agent tasks, not for being a top-tier coder. You can access it on OpenRouter for free until July 21.

The model works by mixing experts – it has 295 billion total parameters but only 21 billion active at a time. That makes it faster and cheaper to run. It is also open source, so you can download and run it locally if you want.

In this episode, Julian Goldie shows how HY3 performs in real tests. He uses it to build games, websites, and videos, and compares it with other models like GLM 5.2 and Fusion. The results show that HY3 is good at some things but not at others.

02Main Features of Tencent HY3

Tencent HY3 comes with several features that make it useful, especially for agent work. It is available on multiple platforms, so you can try it easily.

  • Free API – Available on OpenRouter for free until July 21.
  • Open source – The model is open, so you can inspect and modify it.
  • Mixture of experts – 295B total parameters, but only 21B active, which saves resources.
  • Agent capabilities – Works well with tools like browsing, reading pages, and learning skills.
  • Available on multiple platforms – Also on Noose Research with Hermes Agent and Kilo Code for free.
  • ReMotion skill – Can create animated videos when given access to this tool.

These features make HY3 a good choice for quick, free tasks, even if it isn't the best at complex coding.

03How to Get Started with Tencent HY3

Getting started with Tencent HY3 is simple because it is free and available through an API. Here are the steps Julian shows in the episode:

  1. Go to OpenRouter and type 'HY3 free' in the search bar.
  2. Find the HY3 model in the results and click on it.
  3. Get the API key from OpenRouter.
  4. Plug that API key into your preferred tool, such as Kilo Code or Hermes Agent.
  5. Start using the model for tasks like browsing, coding, or creating videos.

You can also use it on Noose Research with Hermes Agent for free. If you want to run it locally, you might need to wait for it to appear on LM Studio, but the older models were only 8GB, so it might be possible.

04How to Use Tencent HY3 in Practice

In the episode, Julian shows several ways to use Tencent HY3. He built a landing page, an open world game, a driving game, and a parachute game. He also created a video promo using the ReMotion skill.

For agent tasks, HY3 works well. Julian says you can give it a command like 'open up Google' and it will do it. You can also use the '/learn' command to teach it new skills, and it reads pages quickly.

For coding, you can build a simple coder with the free API. Put your prompts on the left, previews on the right, and save your work below. Julian found that HY3 is 'not bad' at coding, even better than some paid models.

To create videos, he gave HY3 access to ReMotion, and it was able to code out a full animated video. That video was 'certainly better than a lot of open-source projects' he has seen.

05Benchmark Results and Comparisons with Other Models

Julian tested Tencent HY3 on GoldieBench, a test his team built. In benchmarks, HY3 beat GLM 5.2 on Claude Eval, which is an agentic workflow test. But in his own testing, it didn't feel as good.

He compared HY3 with other models like Fusion, Hermes Mixture of Agents, and Fable 5. The quality of games and websites from those models was 'way, way better' than HY3. Even GLM 5.1.2 produced nicer outputs in terms of vibe, colors, and detail.

Julian spent three to four hours wrestling with HY3 to get a flight simulator right, but it still wasn't good. He notes that HY3 is open source, so he doesn't expect it to be at the frontier level, but the difference is noticeable.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid with Tencent HY3

When using Tencent HY3, there are some tips and limits to keep in mind. Julian found it is best for agent tasks, not for frontier-level coding. Don't expect it to create polished games or complex apps.

  • Use it for quick tasks – It's great for browsing, reading pages, and running tools.
  • Don't rely on it for high-quality visuals – Games and sites look basic and can be glitchy.
  • Give clear feedback – Even with back-and-forth, it may not improve much.
  • Check the free period – The free API ends on July 21, so plan your projects.
  • Try it on different platforms – OpenRouter, Kilo Code, and Hermes Agent all offer it free.
  • Don't compare it to frontier models – It won't match Claude, Fable 5, or GLM 5.2 in quality.

Julian says if you are building an agent OS, he would prefer GLM 5.2 or Claude. But for a free model that can do agent tasks, HY3 is pretty good.

07Who Should Use Tencent HY3 and Why It Matters

Tencent HY3 is for anyone who wants a free, open source AI for agentic work. If you need a model that can browse, read pages, and run tools without costing money, it is a solid option.

It matters because it is another free, open source choice from China. Julian says it's not the best open source project from China – he would pick GLM 5.2 first and Quen 3.7 second – but it still adds value.

If you are a developer or hobbyist who likes experimenting with AI, you can use HY3 to build useful tools like a coder or a video creator. It shows that open source models are improving, even if they aren't at frontier level yet.