Why Wall Street Is Betting Big on China’s AI Champion After U.S. Crackdown

Beijing, Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
Zhipu’s stock skyrocketed 33% as U.S. restrictions on Anthropic handed China a golden opportunity. With America tightening access to its most advanced AI models, investors are pivoting to Zhipu—now valued at $62.7 billion—after its latest open-source AI model, GLM-5.2, defied global barriers. The move underscores a seismic shift: geopolitical tensions are accelerating China’s AI dominance, with Wall Street banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America racing to back its rise. The question isn’t just who leads AI—it’s who controls its future.