TLDR
- Alibaba’s Quark AI Glasses launched Thursday with S1 model at $536 and G1 at $217
- Glasses feature Qwen AI integration, voice control, real-time translation, and Taobao price scanning
- Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 chip with 24-hour battery life
- Available in 600+ stores across 82 Chinese cities, international release planned for 2026
- Global AI glasses market expected to hit 10 million units by 2026, double 2025 figures
Alibaba entered the smart glasses market Thursday with its Quark AI Glasses lineup. The company launched two models priced at 3,799 yuan ($536) for the S1 and 1,899 yuan ($217) for the G1.
This marks Alibaba’s first consumer wearable device. The product was initially announced in July before becoming available for purchase through Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, BABA
The glasses run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform. This chip includes neural processing units designed specifically for augmented-reality and AI tasks.
The S1 version features micro-OLED displays embedded in the lenses. The G1 model lacks these screens, resulting in the lower price tag.
AI Integration and Core Features
Alibaba built its Qwen AI models directly into the glasses. The device syncs with the company’s Qwen app, which gained 10 million downloads in its first week.
Voice commands control all functions. The frames house cameras, bone conduction microphones, and swappable batteries lasting 24 hours.
Users get real-time translation capabilities. The glasses generate AI meeting notes and answer questions through virtual assistants.
The built-in camera enables product photography. The device then pulls pricing data from Taobao and displays it in the lenses.
Alibaba connected multiple services to the glasses. Taobao marketplace, Fliggy travel booking, and Alipay payments all work with the device.
Music comes through partnerships with NetEase and Tencent. NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music stream directly to the glasses.
Market Position and Sales Strategy
The S1 is available now across more than 600 stores in 82 Chinese cities. International versions will roll out in 2026 through AliExpress and other platforms.
China’s smart glasses market shipped 1.6 million units through September. Xiaomi controls about one-third of that market.
Total shipments including display-equipped glasses topped 2 million units. Multiple startups have entered the Chinese market over the past year.
Meta released its $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses in September. That device includes screens and a wristband for gesture controls.
Growth Projections
Omdia forecasts global AI glasses shipments will exceed 10 million units by 2026. This represents double the expected 2025 volume.
IDC research director Sophie Pan stated Alibaba’s entry will reshape China’s smart eyewear landscape. The company faces competition from Xiaomi and startup Xreal.
CEO Eddie Wu reported strong user retention with the Qwen app release. Alibaba integrated Qwen into its Quark desktop browser and now extends it to wearables.
The company’s cloud computing division showed faster growth last quarter. This business unit records most of Alibaba’s AI-related revenue.
Alibaba ranks among China’s top AI companies alongside Baidu and Tencent. The Hangzhou-based firm has invested heavily in AI model development and releases new versions regularly.
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Source: https://blockonomi.com/alibaba-baba-stock-tech-giant-unveils-500-ai-powered-smart-glasses/