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Iris Deng

Chinese technology companies are stepping up their push into the smart-glasses market with new software and hardware innovations, intensifying competition to lead in the next generation of artificial intelligence-driven devices.
Ant International, the overseas arm of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, on Wednesday unveiled what it described as the world’s first iris-authentication technology for payments via smart glasses.
Chinese electronics makers Xiaomi and Meizu will be the first to offer the AI-based feature. Iris scanning is regarded as more secure than face or fingerprint recognition.
Ant is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post.
The iris feature is powered by gPass, a technology framework Ant launched in September for smart glasses, part of a broader bet on the growing use of wearable devices for shopping and payments.
The roll-out comes amid intensifying competition among Chinese tech heavyweights including Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi, which are ramping up efforts to dominate what market research firm Counterpoint has described as a “war of a hundred smart glasses”.
Alibaba announced on Wednesday that it would launch its AI-powered eyewear – the Quark AI Glasses – on November 27 after starting presales in late October.
On Monday, Baidu’s Xiaodu AI Glass Pro, priced at 2,299 yuan (US$323), went on sale on e-commerce sites JD.com and Alibaba’s Tmall.
Xiaomi launched its offering, priced at 1,999 yuan, in June, emerging as a dark horse in the burgeoning market.
About 50,000 units had been sold through online e-commerce channels and the company’s physical stores since the debut, according to third-party data in July. A company executive said in a recent interview with Chinese news portal Sohu.com that he anticipated annual sales of the glasses would reach 5 million units in three years.
Global shipments of smart glasses surged 110 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the year, driven mostly by strong demand for Meta Platforms’ glasses and new offerings including Xiaomi’s, Counterpoint said in August.
Meta, one of the pioneers in commercialising AI glasses, led the market with a more than 73 per cent share. Other major players included Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies, TCL Electronics subsidiary RayNeo and Xiaomi.
AI glasses accounted for 78 per cent of total smart-frame shipments, with the remaining portion being basic models such as smart audio glasses, according to Counterpoint.
Global shipments of AI glasses are expected to surge 158 per cent in 2025, reaching 5.1 million units, according to a report by research firm Omdia. The market is forecast to exceed 10 million units by 2026 and 35 million units by 2030, it said.


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Artificial intelligence (AI)

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Chinese electronics makers Xiaomi and Meizu will be the first to offer Ant’s AI-based iris verification feature. Photo: Handout

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In this photo illustration taken March 13, 2025, the Quark page is displayed on a smartphone screen with the Alibaba logo in the background. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

The Qwen logo from Alibaba Cloud is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. Photo: Shutterstock Images 

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Xiaomi’s AI-powered smart glasses are seen on sale in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on June 27, 2025. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Xiaomi unveiled the firm’s first AI glasses at a corporate event in Beijing last month. Photo: Handout

Alibaba previews its first AI-powered glasses, joining China’s heated smart wearable race

Alibaba showcases its first pair of AI glasses, slated for official launch later this year. Photo: Handout

Alibaba is doubling down on its investments into AI software and hardware. Photo: AP

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Heavyweights including Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi are vying to dominate what a market research firm calls a ‘war of 100 smart glasses’


Heavyweights including Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi are vying to dominate what a market research firm calls a ‘war of 100 smart glasses’.


Big Tech firms double down on AI glasses, as Ant offers iris authentication for payments

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Heavyweights including Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi are vying to dominate what a market research firm calls a ‘war of 100 smart glasses’

Heavyweights including Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi are vying to dominate what a market research firm calls a ‘war of 100 smart glasses’