Will Smart Glasses Lead a New Surge in AI Hardware? (AI Translation)
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文｜财新周刊 刘沛林
By Liu Peilin, Caixin Weekly
近一月内，阿里巴巴、小米两大互联网厂商均宣布人工智能（AI）眼镜新品，预示着新一波AI硬件风潮即将到来。上一波类似热潮要追溯至2016年前后的AI音箱，彼时为物联网应用的语音智能入口之争；而如今是生成式AI大模型竞逐交互式、消费级智能体（AI Agent）硬件入口的新赛场。
In the past month, Chinese internet giants Alibaba and Xiaomi have both unveiled new artificial intelligence (AI) smart glasses, signaling the imminent arrival of a fresh wave in AI-powered hardware. The previous comparable surge dates back to around 2016, centered on the proliferation of AI smart speakers, which marked a race to become the voice-controlled gateway for the Internet of Things. Today, the competition has shifted to generative AI and large language models, with technology firms vying to develop interactive, consumer-grade AI agent hardware as the next key entry point for users.
2025年7月26日，阿里巴巴在上海举行的世界人工智能大会上发布首款AI眼镜，称其搭载了旗下“夸克大模型”，能够识别周围环境、和佩戴者通过语音交互，并接入“阿里系”的高德地图、淘宝、飞猪、支付宝等生态。该产品预计于年内上市。
On July 26, 2025, Alibaba unveiled its first AI-powered eyewear at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The company stated that the device is equipped with its proprietary "Quark Large Model", enabling it to recognize the surrounding environment and engage in voice interactions with the wearer. The glasses are also connected to Alibaba's broader ecosystem, with integration into Gaode Map, Taobao, Fliggy, Alipay, and other services. The product is expected to hit the market later this year.
恰好一个月前，6月26日，小米借助新车发布热度，乘势推出首款AI眼镜，吸引市场高度关注，开售数日销量就达上万副。小米AI眼镜接入了大模型端侧（部署于移动电子设备）AI助手“超级小爱”，可以拍照识别文字、物体，与用户对话，并通过眼镜实现扫码支付功能。
Exactly one month ago, on June 26, Xiaomi capitalized on the buzz generated by its new car launch to debut its first AI-powered smart glasses, drawing significant attention from the market. Within just a few days of going on sale, sales surpassed 10,000 units. Xiaomi’s AI glasses are integrated with an on-device large language model assistant, “Super Xiao Ai,” which enables features such as photo-based text and object recognition, conversational interaction with users, and payment via QR code scanning through the glasses.
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- Major Chinese tech firms like Alibaba and Xiaomi launched AI glasses in 2024–2025, with global AI glasses shipments projected to reach 8.83 million in 2025—a 225.6% year-on-year increase (IDC).
- AI glasses, with lighter form factors and voice/vision interactivity, are poised to replace VR/AR as the next key AI hardware entry point; established and startup players alike are competing.
- China’s mature supply chain drives innovation, but large-scale manufacturing is challenging; Chinese startups are expanding rapidly into overseas markets.
In the past month, major Chinese tech companies Alibaba and Xiaomi have launched new AI glasses products, signaling a fresh wave of AI hardware innovation. This trend follows a previous surge in AI speakers around 2016, which competed to be the voice-activated entry points for the Internet of Things. Now, the competition has shifted to consumer-grade AI Agent hardware integrated with large generative AI models, reflecting the industry’s push for new interactive devices [para. 1].
Alibaba unveiled its first AI glasses at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26, 2025. These glasses, powered by Alibaba’s "Quark" large language model, can recognize surroundings, interact with wearers via voice, and connect to Alibaba’s ecosystem, including Gaode Maps, Taobao, Fliggy, and Alipay. The glasses are expected to launch within the year. One month earlier, Xiaomi launched its own AI glasses, quickly selling tens of thousands of units by integrating its "Super Xiaoai" AI assistant capable of text/object recognition, dialogue, and contactless payments [para. 2][para. 3].
Other Chinese tech giants are also active in this space: Baidu revealed its first AI glasses, delayed beyond the original 1H2025 target, powered by its "Wenxin" model. ByteDance is reportedly developing similar hardware, having previously launched an AI-powered smart headset [para. 4][para. 5].
AI wearables face challenges. Despite the hype, devices like Rabbit R1 and Humane’s AI Pin have failed to deliver due to underwhelming performance, limited battery life, and unimpressive cloud AI capabilities. While celebrity investors and partnerships (e.g., OpenAI’s investment in Humane) gained buzz, few products have scaled successfully, and the mass market potential remains largely untapped [para. 7][para. 8].
Globally, AI glasses are becoming the focus for tech giants, who see their relatively familiar, lightweight form factor as ideal for visual and audio interaction. These differ from AR/VR products like Apple’s Vision Pro or Meta’s VR headsets by focusing on AI-driven personal assistance rather than immersive entertainment [para. 10].
Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, launched in September 2023, set the standard by integrating AI into a familiar product and sold over one million units in 2024, showcasing meaningful consumer demand [para. 11]. Google re-entered the market in May 2025 with a Gemini-based Android platform for smart glasses and invested in eyewear brands like Gentle Monster, aiming for product launches in 2026. Chinese AR startup XREAL is among Google's first partners [para. 12][para. 13].
The smart glasses segment is forecasted to outpace AR/VR: IDC predicts global smart glasses shipments will reach 14.52 million in 2025 (+42.5% YoY), with AI glasses accounting for 8.83 million units (+225.6% YoY), while AR/VR shipments are expected to fall 23.9%. In China, AI glasses shipments are projected at 2.16 million units in 2025 (+178.4% YoY) [para. 14][para. 15].
Chinese companies possess competitive advantages in complex hardware integration and rapid iteration due to their mature supply chains [para. 18]. However, manufacturing remains challenging, with production constrained by the need to integrate processors, optics, sensors, batteries, and displays into lightweight frames, as seen in delays and technical hurdles faced by startups like Flash Extreme (Shanjitech) [para. 19][para. 20].
Established players like Rokid and Thunderbird Innovation lead among startups, integrating AR displays and AI models (e.g., Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen), and expanding overseas. Production capacity remains tight, with delivery cycles up to six months due to higher-than-expected demand [para. 22][para. 25].
Product differentiation is ongoing: some, like Xiaomi and Alibaba, offer audio-only AI glasses, while startups like Rokid and Thunderbird are pushing AR+AI, embedding basic or full-color displays for more immersive uses; however, display technology and battery limitations remain issues [para. 26][para. 27].
AI wearables are also expanding into recording/translation devices and toys. Plaud AI's recording pen and wearable capsule achieved sales of over one million units globally, becoming a leading hardware product after Meta's glasses. Other Chinese companies, like iFlytek and AI toy startups, are leveraging software-hardware integration to boost interactivity and utility [para. 42][para. 43][para. 46][para. 49][para. 51][para. 53].
China's AI hardware innovators increasingly target overseas markets, benefiting from high consumer acceptance and willingness to pay in the US and Europe. Companies like Remo Tech and Rokid, which have adapted their go-to-market strategies and established overseas distribution, demonstrate the global reach and potential for Chinese-made AI hardware, even as international trade barriers arise [para. 67][para. 68][para. 72][para. 77].
- Alibaba
阿里巴巴 - Alibaba is set to launch its first AI glasses in 2025, powered by its "Quark large model." These glasses will offer environmental recognition, voice interaction, and integration with Alibaba's ecosystem, including Alipay and Taobao. This move is part of a broader trend among major tech companies to develop AI-powered hardware, particularly AI glasses, to serve as new entry points for generative AI applications.
- Xiaomi
小米 - Within the last month, Xiaomi launched its first AI glasses, attracting significant market attention with tens of thousands sold within days. These glasses integrate the "Super Xiaoai" AI assistant for tasks like text and object recognition, conversation, and QR code payments. The company views AI glasses as a key entry point for interactive, consumer-grade AI Agent hardware.
- Baidu
百度 - Baidu, a prominent Chinese internet company, is actively involved in the AI eyewear sector. Their intelligent terminal company, Xiaodu, showcased its first AI glasses in November 2024. These glasses integrate Baidu's Wenxin large model and offer visual and auditory perception with feedback capabilities, though their planned 2025 launch has been delayed.
- ByteDance
字节跳动 - 信息缺失。文章没有提供关于字节跳动的AI眼镜计划的足够细节，无法在80字以内做出总结。
- Apple
苹果 - Apple is mentioned for its Vision Pro, a VR/AR product contrasting with AI glasses due to its immersive focus. The article notes that Apple has significant technical reserves in optical waveguide technology and is expected to release AI glasses eventually. In May 2025, OpenAI acquired a hardware company founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive.
- Meta
Meta - Meta, with Ray-Ban, launched its second-generation AI glasses in September 2023, defining AI glasses by integrating AI capabilities into traditional camera and video recording features. These glasses offer interactive functions and voice commands. By 2024, sales surpassed 1 million units, marking a significant breakthrough in AI glasses.
- Ray-Ban
雷朋 - In September 2023, Meta collaborated with Luxottica (Ray-Ban's parent company) to introduce the second generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These glasses integrate AI capabilities for enhanced interaction and voice commands, building on traditional photo and video functions. By 2024, they sold over one million units, marking a significant milestone in AI glasses development.
- Google
谷歌 - Google previously abandoned its consumer-grade glasses in 2015 due to immature technology and privacy concerns. However, in May 2025, they launched a smart glasses Android platform based on their large model, Gemini, at a developer conference. Google aims to collaborate with hardware manufacturers as a system platform and has invested in traditional eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to bring AI glasses to market.
- Gentle Monster
绅士怪兽 - Gentle Monster, a brand that creates unique and experimental eyewear, is mentioned in the article. Google has invested in Gentle Monster and plans to collaborate with them and Warby Parker to introduce AI glasses to the market.
- Warby Parker
沃比帕克 - Warby Parker is an American company mentioned in the article as a potential partner for Google. Google plans to collaborate with Warby Parker, and another traditional eyewear brand, Gentle Monster, to bring AI glasses to market.
- XREAL
XREAL - XREAL, a leading Chinese AR glasses startup, is partnering with Google as a first-batch collaborator for its smart glasses Android platform, which uses Google's Gemini large model. XREAL is expected to launch its product in 2026.
- Sharge
闪极科技 - Sharge (闪极科技) is a Chinese company founded in 2020, initially known for power banks and chargers. They entered the AI glasses market with their "AI拍拍镜" but faced significant delays and product quality issues. The article suggests they underestimated the manufacturing complexity of AI glasses, which is closer to smartphone production than their previous products.
- Rokid
灵伴科技 - Rokid, an AR glasses startup founded in 2014, is a leader in the AI glasses market. In February 2025, Rokid gained attention for its founder's speech using the company's glasses for teleprompter and real-time translation via Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen large model. Rokid is currently delivering products and plans international launches in Hong Kong and New York in August.
- RayNeo
雷鸟创新 - RayNeo, a company spun off from TCL in 2021, is a leading AI eyewear startup. In January 2025, RayNeo launched two models, the V3 and X3 Pro, which integrate with the Alibaba-backed Tongyi Qianwen large model, offering features such as photo, video, and voice interaction. The X3 Pro also boasts a full-color screen on its lens for video playback and real-time navigation.
- Lens Technology
蓝思科技 - Lens Technology is mentioned as one of the few "Apple chain" consumer electronics factories in China capable of mass-producing AI glasses, alongside Goertek and Luxshare Precision. Producing AI glasses is described as more challenging than manufacturing iPhones for these factories.
- Goertek
歌尔股份 - Goertek (歌尔股份) is one of the few "Apple chain" consumer electronics factories with the capability to act as an original equipment manufacturer for AI glasses. Manufacturers like Goertek are finding AI glasses more challenging to produce than iPhones, with lower yield rates and production capacity still developing.
- Luxshare Precision
立讯精密 - Luxshare Precision is a key electronics manufacturer in China, noted for its role in the "Apple supply chain." It is one of the few factory groups capable of mass-producing AI glasses, despite the significant manufacturing challenges involved. The company's capabilities are crucial for scaling AI eyewear production.
- Plaud AI
普乐德人工智能 - Plaud AI, founded in late 2021, launched the Plaud Note, an AI card recording pen, in June 2023. This device records phone calls or external audio and uses large models such as OpenAI, Claude, and Google for transcription. It quickly gained popularity in Europe and the US, achieving over 1 million global sales for its two products by July 2025.
- Mobvoi
出门问问 - Mobvoi (出门问问) is an AI company that launched an AI recording pen product called "TicNote." This product works similarly to the Plaud Note, recording phone calls or external audio, and uses large language models from companies like Doubao and DeepSeek for transcription. Mobvoi also integrates its own AI assistant, Shadow AI, into TicNote.
- 360 Security Technology
奇虎360 - Qihoo 360 (奇虎360) is a Chinese software company. They have announced plans to launch an AI recording product similar to Plaud Note, with an expected release in the third quarter of 2025. This indicates their entry into the AI hardware market, specifically focusing on devices that offer recording and transcription functionalities.
- iFlytek
科大讯飞 - iFlytek, a major player in China's AI hardware market, is expanding its product line beyond traditional handheld devices like translators and recording pens to include wearables such as recording pen pendants. The company emphasizes its strong capabilities in speech recognition and natural language processing, crucial for developing robust AI hardware, especially in challenging environments.
- Remo Technology
睿魔智能 - Remo Technology (睿魔智能) is an AI camera company founded in 2016. Its AI camera products use deep learning algorithms for automatic subject tracking, composition, and gesture control. Initially, they focused on overseas markets after limited early success in China. Remo Technology achieved profitability in 2024, with North America being its largest market.
- Yunwang Innovation
云望创新 - Yunwang Innovation is a Chinese startup. The company gained attention at CES 2025 for its AI massage machine. This device provides various massage settings based on user-selected movements. Founded by Sun Yingdong, Yunwang Innovation sold 8,000 units of this machine by July 2025, with a significant portion through direct sales at international exhibitions.
- DJI
大疆 - DJI (大疆), a leading drone manufacturer, was founded by Wang Tao. It is known for its global focus and success. DJI is part of an incubation system that aims to nurture companies, leveraging China's supply chain advantages.
- Narwal
云鲸 - Narwal is a Chinese robot vacuum cleaner company, incubated by Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is part of the ecosystem of companies associated with Shenzhen Sci-Tech University, founded by DJI's founder Wang Tao's mentor, Professor Li Zexiang. Narwal is known for its cleaning solutions and is an example of a successful hardware venture from this incubator.
- Casio
卡西欧 - Casio, a Japanese watch brand, released an AI plush pet named Moflin in 2024. This unique AI companion reacts to being petted by wiggling its body. Priced at $400, Moflin highlights the trend of integrating AI with toys and companion products, offering interactive experiences to users.
- 2015：
- Google abandoned its consumer-grade smart glasses due to immature technology and privacy concerns.
- 2016：
- The last comparable AI-powered hardware wave occurred, centered on proliferation of AI smart speakers.
- 2018：
- Japanese robotics company Groove X launched the AI pet Lovot.
- 2019：
- Remo Technology introduced its first AI camera product in China, then attended CES in January 2019, increasing international awareness.
- 2020：
- Rokid, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, launched its first infrared temperature-measurement AR eyewear.
- 2021：
- Thunderbird Innovation, initially incubated within TCL, became independent.
- 2021：
- Shenzhen Institute of Innovation and Technology was founded by Li Zexiang.
- End of 2021：
- Xu Gaoyu founded Plaud AI.
- 2019：
- Remo Technology introduced its first AI camera product in China, then attended CES in January 2019, increasing international awareness.
- June 2023：
- Plaud AI unveiled its first AI-powered voice recorder, Plaud Note.
- July 2023：
- Jin Jie's company released its first voice conversation model, Anyone.
- August 2023：
- Rokid entered into a partnership with Google focused on eyewear products.
- September 2023：
- Meta, in partnership with Ray-Ban, launched its second generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
- 2024：
- Casio launched AI plush pet Moflin.
- 2024：
- Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses sales surpassed 1 million units.
- 2024：
- Remo Intelligence turned a profit.
- 2024：
- By 2024, Jin Jie's Anyone model was adopted by domestic toymakers and hardware manufacturers.
- Early 2024：
- Products such as Rabbit R1 and AI Pin briefly went viral in tech circles.
- February 2024：
- Rabbit's server shutdown rendered AI Pin no longer functional.
- February 2024：
- Lovot opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Shanghai, China.
- April 2024：
- Mobvoi launched TicNote, a product similar to Plaud Note, for overseas market.
- April and June 2024：
- Mobvoi's TicNote went on sale in overseas and Chinese domestic markets.
- May 2024：
- Sharge Technology launched and pre-sold its 'AI Snap Glasses.'
- May 2024：
- OpenAI spent $6.5 billion to acquire hardware startup from Jony Ive.
- October 2024：
- ByteDance launched its first AI-enabled earphones, Ola Friend.
- November 2024：
- Baidu’s smart device subsidiary Xiaodu unveiled its first AI glasses.
- Late 2024：
- First official delivery deadline for Sharge's AI Snap Glasses missed.
- January 2025：
- Second official delivery deadline for Sharge's AI Snap Glasses missed.
- January 2025：
- Thunderbird Innovation launched V3 and X3 Pro AI glasses.
- January 2025：
- CES 2025 was held in Las Vegas; Yunwang Chuangxin showcased its AI massage machine.
- February 2025：
- Rokid founder Zhu Mingming's scriptless speech using company glasses went viral; product delivery began.
- February 2025：
- AI Pin's servers were shut down.
- June 2025：
- Xiaomi debuted its first AI-powered smart glasses.
- June 2025：
- Chinese software firm 360 announced plans to launch a Plaud Note-like device, with launch expected in Q3 2025.
- June 26, 2025：
- Xiaomi launched its AI-powered smart glasses.
- July 2025：
- Xiaomi's AI-powered smart glasses went on sale.
- July 2025：
- Meta-Ray Ban AI glasses referenced as world’s #1 AI hardware brand by sales.
- July 2025：
- At World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Song Gang of Alibaba spoke about AI glasses.
- July 26, 2025：
- Alibaba unveiled its first AI-powered eyewear at World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
- July 2025：
- Rokid resumed shipments to the American market after a temporary halt due to new US tariffs announced in April 2025.
- August 2025：
- Rokid plans to launch product models for Hong Kong, China and New York, USA.
- August 2025：
- As of August 2025, there is no unified definition for domestic AI glasses.
- Q3 2025：
- Chinese software firm 360's Plaud Note-like device expected to launch.
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