Alibaba (BABA) Stock: Chinese Tech Giant Launches AI Smart Glasses to Challenge Meta

TLDR

• Alibaba launched its Quark AI Glasses on Thursday with two models: S1 at $536 and G1 at $217
• The glasses integrate Alibaba’s Qwen AI models and connect to the newly-launched Qwen app with voice control
• Features include real-time translation, AI meeting notes, and price checking on Taobao through the built-in camera
• The S1 model includes micro-OLED displays while the G1 version lacks this display technology
• Smart glasses shipments in China reached 1.6 million units through September, with the market expected to exceed 10 million units globally by 2026

Alibaba released its first smart glasses product on Thursday, entering the growing wearable AI market with two models priced at 3,799 yuan ($536) for the S1 and 1,899 yuan ($217) for the G1.

The Quark AI Glasses mark Alibaba’s first venture into consumer hardware wearables. The company first announced the product in July before making it available for purchase through multiple channels including Tmall, JD.com, and ByteDance’s Douyin platform.

Both models run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform. This chip was designed specifically for augmented-reality glasses and includes neural processing units for AI tasks.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, BABA

The S1 model features micro-OLED displays built into the lenses. The G1 version does not include these screens, accounting for the lower price point.

Alibaba integrated its Qwen AI models into the glasses. The device connects to the company’s newly-launched Qwen app, which attracted 10 million downloads in its first week.

Users can control the glasses through voice commands. The frames include cameras, bone conduction microphones, and swappable batteries rated for 24 hours of use.

Smart Glasses Features and Functionality

The glasses offer real-time translation services for on-the-go use. They can generate AI-powered meeting notes and respond to questions from virtual assistants.

Users can photograph products with the built-in camera. The device then displays pricing information from Taobao, Alibaba’s main shopping app in China.

The company built in connections to its ecosystem of services. This includes the Taobao marketplace, Fliggy travel booking, and Alipay payments.

Alibaba partnered with NetEase and Tencent to provide music services. NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music are available on the device.

The S1 model is available immediately across more than 600 stores in 82 Chinese cities. International versions will launch next year through platforms like AliExpress.

Market Competition and Growth

China’s smart glasses market shipped 1.6 million units through September. Xiaomi captured roughly one-third of that market share.

When including glasses with built-in displays, total shipments exceeded 2 million units. The market has seen multiple startups enter the space over the past year.

Meta launched its $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses in September. The device includes built-in displays and a separate wristband for gesture controls.

Global shipments of AI glasses are projected to exceed 10 million units by 2026. This would represent a doubling from 2025 levels, according to Omdia forecasts.

IDC research director Sophie Pan said Alibaba’s entry will bring new dynamics to China’s smart eyewear market. The company competes with domestic rivals including Xiaomi and startup Xreal.

Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu reported “exceptional user retention” with the Qwen app release this week. The company has integrated the Qwen suite into its Quark desktop browser and now extends it to wearables.

Alibaba’s cloud computing business, where it books AI-related revenue, showed accelerated growth last quarter. The Hangzhou-based company ranks among China’s AI leaders alongside Baidu and Tencent.

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