Alibaba has officially stepped into the next major consumer tech battleground with the launch of its Quark AI Glasses, priced at roughly $500, signaling its intent to challenge Meta and other global players in the race to define the post-smartphone era.
Two Models Designed for Everyday AI
Alibaba’s new AI glasses come in two versions:
- S1 – ¥3,799 (~$536), featuring a premium display
- G1 – ¥1,899, the entry-level model
Both integrate the company’s Qwen AI models, enabling hands-free voice commands, real-time translation, AI-generated meeting summaries, product recognition, and direct integration with Taobao for instant shopping insights.
A built-in camera allows users to scan objects and pull up purchase info instantly — a sign of how deeply Alibaba aims to fuse hardware with its e-commerce ecosystem.
The Smart-Glasses Wars Are Heating Up
Alibaba joins a rapidly intensifying global race:
- Meta released its $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses in September
- Xiaomi, Xreal, and China’s broader consumer-electronics ecosystem are moving aggressively
- Analysts project AI-glass shipments will surpass 10 million units by 2026, doubling in a single year
For Big Tech, smart glasses represent the first real opportunity to introduce a successor to the smartphone — a device that blends AI assistance, real-time information overlays, and hands-free control.
Alibaba’s AI Momentum Continues
The launch comes as Alibaba intensifies its consumer-AI strategy:
- The Qwen app hit 10 million downloads in its first week
- Alibaba Cloud’s AI-related revenue recorded a meaningful uptick
- The company continues to release new Qwen models faster than Chinese rivals Baidu and Tencent
In China’s fast-moving AI sector, Alibaba is positioning itself as a leader across both enterprise and consumer markets.
WSA Take
Smart glasses are becoming the next major hardware cycle — and the companies controlling the AI ecosystems behind them will shape the future of wearable computing. Alibaba’s move signals that the shift beyond smartphones isn’t theoretical anymore; it’s happening.
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