Alibaba has announced its entry into the AI-powered wearables market with the launch of Quark AI Glasses, set for release in China by the end of 2025.
The glasses are powered by the company’s proprietary Qwen large language model and its AI assistant, Quark.
With this, the Hangzhou-headquartered e-commerce giant becomes the latest Chinese tech firm to move into hardware, marking a shift in strategy aimed at expanding the use of its AI services beyond mobile apps.
The launch positions Alibaba to compete directly with both domestic and international players in the next phase of consumer computing.
Alibaba’s AI Glasses offer integrated ecosystem functionality
The Quark AI Glasses will support a range of functions, including hands-free calling, music streaming, real-time language translation, and meeting transcription.
Equipped with a built-in camera, the glasses will also allow users to access Alibaba’s ecosystem of services.
Users will be able to navigate using Alibaba’s mapping services, make payments via its Ant Group affiliate’s Alipay platform, and shop directly on its flagship e-commerce site, Taobao.
This integration underlines Alibaba’s attempt to build an all-in-one wearable platform, mirroring efforts seen from Meta and Xiaomi.
While the device is aimed at Chinese consumers initially, its potential expansion could impact the global wearables market. No pricing or technical specifications have been disclosed yet.
AI wearables market heats up in China
Alibaba’s smart glasses will enter a growing field already populated by companies like Meta and Xiaomi.
Earlier this year, Xiaomi released its pair of AI glasses, and Meta has partnered with Ray-Ban to develop smart glasses targeting Western markets.
With the launch of Quark AI Glasses, Alibaba is not only taking on its Chinese competitors but is also positioning itself against global firms in the AI wearable category.
The company’s use of its in-house Qwen model and Quark assistant reflects a push to offer capabilities that match or rival those of OpenAI and other Western developers.
Alibaba is among the leaders in China’s AI sector, having invested heavily in large language models and generative AI tools.
By entering the hardware segment, the firm appears to be following a trend of AI companies extending their product ecosystem to include physical devices, thereby increasing user retention and data integration.
Quark app gains a new distribution channel through hardware
Until now, Quark has been available as a standalone app in China. By embedding it into wearable hardware, Alibaba is aiming to broaden the reach and use cases of its AI assistant.
The strategy reflects a broader industry trend where AI capabilities are being embedded directly into consumer devices, enhancing their utility and stickiness.
Quark AI Glasses could serve as a new access point for users to interact with Alibaba’s services on the go, without relying on smartphones.
As AI adoption accelerates across Asia, wearables like smart glasses are expected to become key interfaces for accessing virtual assistants, AI-driven services, and immersive experiences.
Alibaba’s entry into this space adds another layer to the ongoing hardware race in the AI age.
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