Gemini 3.5 Flash vs GLM-5.2
Google Gemini 3.5 Flash | Z.ai GLM-5.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Company | Z.ai | |
| Release date | May 19 2026 | Jun 16 2026 |
| Access | Proprietary | Open Weight |
| Specifications | ||
Parameters | — | 744B |
Context window | — | 1M |
| Benchmarks | ||
Nonsense detection BullshitBench v2Given a confidently-worded but nonsensical prompt, does the AI spot that it makes no sense and push back — instead of playing along and inventing an answer? The score is how often it clearly called out the nonsense. Higher is better. | 20% | — |
Agentic coding SWE-Bench ProCan the AI fix real bugs in real software? It's handed actual problems from open-source projects and has to write code that genuinely solves them. Higher is better. | 55.1% | 62.1%Best |
Agentic terminal coding Terminal-Bench 2.1Can the AI work in a command-line terminal — running commands and finishing technical setup tasks the way a developer would? Higher is better. | 76.2% | 81%Best |
Multi-step tool use MCP AtlasCan the AI chain together many tools and steps to complete one bigger task, rather than doing just a single thing? Higher is better. | 83.6% | — |
General tool use ToolathlonTests how well the AI uses everyday real-world tools and apps to get things done. Higher is better. | 56.5% | — |
Multidisciplinary reasoning Humanity's Last Exam · no toolsHumanity's Last Exam — extremely hard expert questions across many subjects, written so you can't just look up the answer. “No tools” means the AI answers on its own. Higher is better. | 40.2% | 40.5%Best |
Abstract reasoning ARC-AGI-2Puzzle-style tests of abstract reasoning and pattern-finding — the kind of thing people find easy but AIs often struggle with. Higher is better. | 72.1% | — |
Science GPQA DiamondGraduate-level science questions in biology, physics, and chemistry — hard enough that subject-matter PhDs score around 65%. Higher is better. | — | 91.2% |
Agentic computer use OSWorld-VerifiedCan the AI actually operate a computer — clicking, typing, and using real apps — to finish tasks on its own? Higher is better. | 78.4% | — |
Agentic financial analysis Finance Agent v2Tests the AI on real financial-analysis work, like digging through reports and making sound decisions. Higher is better. | 57.9% | — |
Knowledge work GDPval-AAMeasures how well the AI does economically valuable knowledge work, judged against human experts. Shown as a rating (like a chess Elo) — higher is better. | 1656 | — |
Chart reasoning CharXiv ReasoningCan the AI read and reason about complex charts and figures, not just text? Higher is better. | 84.2% | — |
Multimodal reasoning MMMU-ProA tougher version of MMMU — college-level questions that mix images, diagrams, and text together. Higher is better. | 83.6% | — |
Spatial reasoning Blueprint-Bench 2Can the AI reason about space and layout — for example, understanding a floor plan or blueprint? Higher is better. | 33.6% | — |
Long context MRCR v2 (8-needle) · 128k averageTests whether the AI can find specific details buried inside a very long document (around 128k tokens — roughly a long book). Higher is better. | 77.3% | — |
Long context MRCR v2 (8-needle) · 1M pointwiseTests whether the AI can find specific details buried inside an enormous document (around 1 million tokens — many books). Higher is better. | 26.6% | — |
| Timeline | ||
| Release gap | Gemini 3.5 Flash shipped 28 days before GLM-5.2 | |
Which is better: Gemini 3.5 Flash or GLM-5.2?
GLM-5.2 leads Gemini 3.5 Flash on 3 of the 3 benchmarks they both report (SWE-Bench Pro, Terminal-Bench 2.1, Humanity's Last Exam). Gemini 3.5 Flash shipped 28 days before GLM-5.2, so benchmark comparisons should account for the intervening progress.
Gemini 3.5 Flash is proprietary, while GLM-5.2 is open weight.
On SWE-Bench Pro, GLM-5.2 leads at 62.1% vs Gemini 3.5 Flash at 55.1%. On Terminal-Bench 2.1, GLM-5.2 leads at 81% vs Gemini 3.5 Flash at 76.2%. On Humanity's Last Exam · no tools, GLM-5.2 leads at 40.5% vs Gemini 3.5 Flash at 40.2%.
Frequently asked questions
Gemini 3.5 Flash was released by Google on May 19 2026.
GLM-5.2 was released by Z.ai on Jun 16 2026.
GLM-5.2 leads on SWE-Bench Pro — Gemini 3.5 Flash 55.1% vs GLM-5.2 62.1%.
GLM-5.2 leads on Humanity's Last Exam · no tools — Gemini 3.5 Flash 40.2% vs GLM-5.2 40.5%.
Gemini 3.5 Flash is a proprietary model released by Google. GLM-5.2 is an open weight model released by Z.ai.