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Alibaba has launched its first pair of smart glasses, Quark AI Glasses. This move is part of the company’s push into consumer AI and smart devices. The glasses are now available in China, with prices starting at 1,899 yuan (approximately $268) for the G1 model. The premium S1 model costs 3,799 yuan (approximately $536).
The glasses use Alibaba’s Qwen AI app, similar to ChatGPT. This lets users control the glasses with their voice. The glasses can show translations, take AI-generated meeting notes, and answer questions. They also let users scan products with the camera and check prices on Taobao, Alibaba’s shopping app.
The S1 model has better Micro-LED displays than G1. Both models look like normal glasses but include a small screen in the lenses. S1 offers brighter and clearer visuals. The glasses also support hands-free calls, music, and other AI tasks.
Alibaba is entering a growing market of smart glasses. Meta, the maker of Ray-Ban smart glasses, is already a big player. Alibaba’s glasses are cheaper, starting nearly 30% lower than Meta’s $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses. Local competitors like Xiaomi and Xreal are also in the market. Experts see this as a strategic move for Alibaba. The company is combining its AI software and hardware. Its Qwen app already has millions of downloads, and the cloud business that supports AI is growing fast.
The smart glasses market is expected to grow quickly. By 2026, shipments could double to more than 10 million units. However, user adoption might get delayed as some users worry about privacy with cameras and AI always running.
Currently, Alibaba's Quark AI Glasses are available only in China. The company may expand globally in the future, potentially making these smart glasses a strong competitor in the international market.
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