Latest news with #QuarkAI
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
China's Newest Pair of Smart Glasses Are Meta's Biggest Threat Yet
It's official: Alibaba is entering the smart glasses game. After rumors that percolated late last week, Alibaba unveiled its official plans to put out frames that look awfully similar to Meta's Ray-Bans, but with a few key advantages that could help them blow way past U.S. competition. The smart glasses, called Quark AI, are actually a lot more similar to Meta's Ray-Bans than I expected. For one, they do not feature a display of any kind and instead focus more on here-and-now features like calling, audio, translation, and using a built-in camera to take pictures. If those all sound like familiar capabilities, it's because Meta's Ray-Bans can do all of those things. If you're reading that with deflation, I wouldn't blame you, given how advanced China's smart glasses field has become and the resources that Alibaba has at its disposal. But just because those capabilities are similar doesn't mean Quark AI can't push the ball forward. Alibaba just previewed its first AI-powered smart glasses — Quark — at WAIC 2025 in Shanghai. 🔹 Built on the Qwen model series🔹 Qualcomm AR1 + low-power dual system chip🔹 Seamless Alipay, Taobao, and Amap integration🔹 40% slimmer than current market glasses — Wes Roth (@WesRothMoney) July 28, 2025For one, Alibaba, unlike Meta, has access to different services that Meta doesn't. Among those is Alipay, which is a popular mobile payment service used predominantly in China but is becoming more widely accepted worldwide. As we've already seen in other smart glasses, like Xiaomi's recent entrant, that integration opens the door for some cool (and maybe concerning) mobile payment features. Similar to Xiaomi's smart glasses, Alibaba says Quark AI supports Alipay for purchasing things using QR codes. If it's anything like Xiaomi's feature—and I'm almost certain it is—users will use the camera to scan a QR code and then use the glasses' voice assistant to confirm payment. If it works as promised, that gives Alibaba's glasses one more advantage over Meta. Oh, also, these are 40% smaller than other similar smart glasses on the market, according to Alibaba, which is great for anyone who doesn't want to look like they're wearing a gadget on their face. And it's not just mobile payments where Alibaba may have the edge in more feature-rich smart glasses. Alibaba also shared plans to integrate navigation into its glasses, which is an area where I find Meta's Ray-Bans to be sorely lacking. I've been using Meta's Ray-Bans for almost a year now, and while I can load up Google Maps on my phone and pipe in step-by-step navigation through its Bluetooth audio, it's not the same as doing all of that natively. While I can't say for sure, Alibaba's glasses, with a tighter integration of GPS, may be able to launch navigation natively by prompting the glasses with a voice command. That may seem small, but it goes a long way in making smart glasses feel actually smart. It's hard to say for sure just where Alibaba will bring its smart glasses when they actually get released, and there's still a lot we don't know, including price, details on camera quality, battery life, and all that very important technical stuff. But from a possibility perspective, it's hard not to recognize a lot of potential for Meta-crushing functionality. If Quark AI is half as capable as Xiaomi's entrant into the space, I'd say Meta has a lot of catching up to do with its third-gen Ray-Ban smart glasses.
International Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- International Business Times
Alibaba Enters Smart Eyewear Market with Quark AI-Powered Glasses
Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba, has finally made an official entry into the smart eyewear market by announcing its new Quark AI glasses. The company showcased the product at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. These glasses are designed to be compatible with Alibaba's expanding AI ecosystem. X The smart glasses are able to translate in real time, make hands-free payments, scan products, and provide turn-by-turn navigation. You can scan QR codes to pay for things on Alipay, compare the prices on Taobao, or get around using Amap. They feature music playback, live transcription, hands-free calls, and an integrated camera. This is the first major step of Alibaba into AI wearables. Local players like Xreal and Rokid have already had comparable products. Global brands like Meta are also competing with smart glasses, like the Ray-Ban Meta. Alibaba is using its own AI models, apps, and platforms to power the glasses. Quark AI glasses are built around Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 chip, which was designed for augmented reality. A second chip with low power handles lighter jobs. The glasses are also powered by Android and RTOS (Real-Time Operating System). The appearance of the design has also been upgraded. The glasses have arms 40% thinner than the usual ones. The frames are lightweight, making them suitable for daily use. The price and launch date have not been confirmed, but Alibaba said the product is ready for market and will be sold in China by the end of 2025. Alibaba also teamed up earlier this year with RayNeo, an AR glasses manufacturer. This partnership also allows for more wearable devices to utilize Alibaba's AI tools. The glasses will be powered by Alibaba's artificial intelligence assistant Quark, which has evolved from a simple app into a full assistant that operates much like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Alibaba is also betting big on AI, with plans of investing $53 billion in AI infrastructure over three years.
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Alibaba joins smart glasses race, takes on Meta with Qualcomm-powered Quark AI glasses
Alibaba has introduced its first pair of AI-powered smart glasses — the Quark AI glasses, named after the company's AI assistant. The smart glasses were shown to the public for the first time at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. While the company hasn't revealed a launch date or price yet, it did say the product is fully developed and expected to go on sale in China later this year. The glasses are designed to work closely with Alibaba's growing AI ecosystem and offer features like real-time translation, hands-free payments, price comparisons and even turn-by-turn navigation — all directly through the is Alibaba's first attempt at making smart glasses, and the timing is no coincidence. Local competitors like Xreal and Rokid have already launched products, and global tech giants like Meta are also in the mix, with their Ray-Ban smart glasses. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, Alibaba seems ready to compete by leaning on its own strengths — AI models, software platforms, and existing services like Alipay and Taobao. The company has already confirmed that the Quark AI glasses will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 platform, a chip made specifically for augmented reality wearables. There's also a second low-power processor inside, and the glasses run on a dual operating system setup — Android and a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), which handles light and immediate tasks has been gradually expanding its AI presence over the past year. Back in February, it announced a $53 billion investment into AI infrastructure over three years. It's also reorganised internal teams to better focus on both AI models and real-world products. This includes the development of its own large language models under the Qwen name, which power various features in Quark, its AI assistant. Earlier this year, Alibaba turned Quark into a more versatile tool, evolving it from a simple search and cloud storage app into an all-in-one assistant with capabilities similar to what you'd expect from ChatGPT or Google Gemini. The company's partnership with AR glasses maker RayNeo earlier this year also shows it's thinking long term. That deal involved integrating Alibaba's AI tools into RayNeo's products, laying the groundwork for future collaboration or tech terms of features, the Quark AI glasses aren't just about looking futuristic. You'll be able to scan QR codes to make payments via Alipay, identify and compare prices on Taobao (China's largest online marketplace) by pointing the glasses at items, and get real-time directions while walking or cycling using Amap, Alibaba's navigation app. The glasses also include hands-free calling, live meeting transcriptions, music playback, and a built-in design of the Quark AI glasses has been tweaked for comfort too. According to the company, the glasses' arms are 40 per cent slimmer than the usual industry standard, making them more practical for daily use. The frames are also lightweight and designed to house all this tech without looking mentioned above, there's no official word on pricing or international availability just yet. Stay tuned to India Today Tech for all the latest on Alibaba's Quark AI glasses.- Ends
