Alibaba Enters Smart Glasses Market with AI-Powered Quark Glasses

Alibaba to launch AI-powered glasses creating a Chinese rival to Meta

Alibaba announced plans to release a pair of smart glasses powered by its AI models. The Quark AI Glasses are Alibaba's first foray into the smart glasses product category. Alibaba on Monday unveiled a pair of smart glasses powered by its artificial intelligence models, marking the Chinese firm's first foray into the product category. The e-commerce giant said the Quark AI Glasses will be launched in China by the end of 2025 with hardware powered by the firm's Qwen large language model and its advanced AI assistant called Quark. The Hangzhou, headquartered company is one of the leaders in China's AI space, aggressively launching new models with capabilities that compete with Western counterparts like OpenAI. Many tech companies see wearables, specifically glasses, as the next frontier in computing alongside the smartphone. Quark, released this year, is currently available as an app in China. Alibaba is stepping into the hardware game as a way to distribute the app more widely. The Quark AI Glasses are Alibaba's answer to Meta's smart glasses that were designed in collaboration with Ray-Ban. The Chinese tech giant will also now compete with Chinese consumer electronics player Xiaomi who this year released its own AI glasses.

Alibaba Unveils AI Glasses to Rival Meta's

Alibaba's U.S.-listed shares, which entered Monday up more than 40% this year, are rising 1.5% in premarket trading. Alibaba Group Holdings (BABA) unveiled its first AI-powered smart glasses Monday, as the Chinese tech giant launches a wearable with features rivaling those of Meta Platforms' (META) offering with Ray-Ban. Alibaba's U.S.-listed shares, which entered Monday up more than 40% this year, are rising 1.5% in premarket trading. The Quark AI Glasses, the Chinese company's first, will be powered by Alibaba's large language model Qwen and are scheduled for official release in China by the end of the year. Alibaba's eyeglasses will be competing with those recently launched by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. "Lightweight and ergonomically designed, Quark AI Glasses support hands-free calling, music streaming, real-time language translation, and meeting transcription -- making them ideal for professionals, travelers, and tech-savvy users," Alibaba said. Wearable technology such as eyeglasses or smartwatches are increasingly viewed as the next stage in AI gadgets after smartphones. Not all wearable devices have been hits, however: Google Glass was pulled by parent Alphabet (GOOGL) from the market after two failed launches since 2014.

China's AI Powerhouse Goes Wearable - Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:BABA), Alibaba Gr Hldgs (OTC:BABAF)

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA BABAF is strapping on its comeback story -- literally. The Hangzhou, China-based tech giant has unveiled its first-ever AI-powered smart glasses, betting $52.4 billion on AI and cloud growth to reboot its image and revenues. Track BABA stock's swings here. But with Trump tariffs constantly in the headlines and U.S.-China tensions simmering, can Alibaba really go global -- or will politics sideline it? Trending Investment OpportunitiesAdvertisementArrivedBuy shares of homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100. Get StartedWiserAdvisorGet matched with a trusted, local financial advisor for free.Get StartedPoint.comTap into your home's equity to consolidate debt or fund a renovation.Get StartedRobinhoodMove your 401k to Robinhood and get a 3% match on deposits.Get StartedFrom Cloud King To Glass Visionary The Quark AI Glasses, slated for launch in China by the end of 2025, pack Alibaba's Qwen large language model and its voice assistant, Quark. From hands-free calls and live translations to Alipay integration and Taobao price checks, these glasses aim to be a mobile command center -- without the mobile. It's Alibaba's answer to Meta Platform's META Ray-Ban collaboration and Xiaomi's AI specs. Read Also: Alibaba Cloud Founder Says True Innovation Doesn't Need Expensive Hires As Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Rolls Out Hundred Million Dollar Packages With a dominant position in China's cloud and AI ecosystem, Alibaba is now blending software with hardware to make Quark more accessible. It's not just eyewear -- it's a bold pivot into next-gen computing. Tariff Shadows On The Horizon The timing is loaded. As BABA stock rides high on China's stimulus hopes and renewed AI optimism, U.S. policy poses fresh risks. China's AI-chip ambitions have been under scrutiny, and tariffs could be weaponized again in 2025. Alibaba's global expansion -- and Wall Street enthusiasm -- could hinge on how that story unfolds. Still, for investors looking beyond the trade war noise, Alibaba offers a growth-meets-value opportunity. AI, cloud, and now wearables -- Alibaba is building a platform that spans digital life. Whether markets see it as a Meta rival or a geopolitical pawn could define its next act. After all, even Jack Ma couldn't have predicted this kind of vision. Read Next: Alibaba Cloud Pioneer Says He Doesn't Like AGI, ASI Classifications: 'It Just Means You Get More Capability. That's It' Image: Shutterstock BABAAlibaba Group Holding Ltd$120.08-1.69%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum90.29Growth94.74Quality46.49Value84.53Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewBABAFAlibaba Group Holding Ltd$15.63-%METAMeta Platforms Inc$712.13-0.77%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Alibaba's New AI Glasses Let You Pay, Navigate, And More - Alibaba Gr Hldgs (NYSE:BABA)

Alibaba Group Holding BABA has entered China's competitive smart glasses market, unveiling its first AI-powered wearable, Quark AI glasses, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The glasses, named after Alibaba's AI assistant, mark the tech giant's debut in this fast-growing space. Alibaba said it completed development and plans to launch the glasses later this year, SCMP reported on Saturday. The device runs on Qualcomm's QCOM Snapdragon AR1 chip and dual operating systems, offering real-time interaction with Alibaba's ecosystem, including Alipay, Taobao, and Amap. Users can scan QR codes to pay, check prices, and get navigation assistance while walking or biking. Also Read: Apple's Upcoming Chip Aims To Challenge Meta In Smart Glasses Battle: Report "AI glasses will become the most important form of wearable intelligence," said Song Gang, head of Alibaba's smart terminal unit, adding that the company designed the product to solve issues like short battery life and weak AI functionality. The frame and temples are thinner than industry standards. The entrance of Alibaba intensifies the already heated competition among Big Tech titans in the smart glasses arena. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously noted Apple's AAPL potential to surpass Meta Platforms' META Ray-Ban smart glasses, despite what he perceives as a slow pace in Apple's development. Kuo's research indicates that Apple is actively pursuing at least seven head-mounted projects, with rollouts projected to commence from 2027 onwards. This aggressive push from Apple comes amidst lingering market skepticism regarding its innovation velocity, particularly when juxtaposed against rivals like Meta and Alphabet GOOGL. Trending Investment OpportunitiesAdvertisementArrivedBuy shares of homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100. Get StartedWiserAdvisorGet matched with a trusted, local financial advisor for free.Get StartedPoint.comTap into your home's equity to consolidate debt or fund a renovation.Get StartedRobinhoodMove your 401k to Robinhood and get a 3% match on deposits.Get Started Nevertheless, Kuo views Apple's renewed emphasis on hardware as a favorable development for both the supply chain and the broader future of wearable technology. Alibaba's stock has demonstrated robust performance this year, gaining 42% year-to-date. This strong momentum has been further strengthened by Goldman Sachs, which significantly increased its stake in Alibaba during the last quarter, acquiring over $1 billion in shares and becoming the largest institutional buyer. This substantial investment underscores growing investor confidence in Alibaba's expansive $52.4 billion AI transformation initiatives, as Wall Street keenly awaits the company's fourth-quarter earnings results. Looking ahead, industry observers note that the competitive landscape for smart glasses is set to broaden further, with companies like Snapchat's parent Snap Inc. SNAP reportedly preparing to launch lightweight AR smart glasses, signaling a sustained battle for market dominance in this nascent but promising technology segment. Price Action: BABA stock is trading higher by 2.02% to $122.45 premarket at last check Monday. Read Next: Snapchat Parent To Launch Light Weight AR Smart Glasses To Compete With Meta, Apple Photo by Mamun_Sheikh via Shutterstock BABAAlibaba Group Holding Ltd$122.331.92%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum90.29Growth94.74Quality46.49Value84.53Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewAAPLApple Inc$214.420.25%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$194.000.42%METAMeta Platforms Inc$716.980.60%QCOMQualcomm Inc$159.800.88%SNAPSnap Inc$9.961.94%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs