Side-by-side comparison of OpenAI API (OpenAI · USA) and Zhipu GLM API (Zhipu AI · China) for European deployment via API. OpenAI API is rated conditional; Zhipu GLM API is blocked. They part ways on hosting: OpenAI API is "EU via Azure", Zhipu GLM API is "China".
| Field | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Verdict | Conditional EU data residency via Azure, but US jurisdiction means CLOUD Act exposure. Blocking for defence and regulated sectors. | Blocked Chinese-hosted API, not usable for European personal data. Open weights (GLM-4 family) are available under permissive licences — see open-weight tab for self-hosting. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-15 | 2026-04-15 |
| Sovereignty | ||
| Hosting | EU via Azure | China |
| GDPR | DPA | Not compliant |
| Jurisdiction | USA | China |
| AI Act | Compliant | Not assessed |
| Evidence | ||
| Sources | ||
No overlapping sources between the two entries.