As Meta Platforms and Ray-Ban enjoy booming sales with their AI-powered smart glasses, Chinese tech companies are racing to claim a share of the lucrative market. The recent success of Meta’s AI-enhanced Ray-Ban glasses, priced around $300, has sparked a surge of interest in AI-integrated eyewear, with sales in just a few months outpacing those of previous models over two years.
This burgeoning sector presents a significant opportunity to blend cutting-edge generative AI with wearable technology, promising consumers a seamless, futuristic experience. Chinese companies are eager to capitalize on this trend by delivering comparable functionality at a more affordable price.
Among the latest entrants is Superhexa, a Xiaomi-backed startup that has launched its AI audio glasses, Jiehuan, priced at a competitive 699 yuan (approximately $98). These glasses offer features similar to their pricier counterparts, including quick access to large language models (LLMs) via built-in speakers and microphones.
LLMs, the technology behind intelligent chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, allow users to interact with AI in real-time, making smart glasses more practical and appealing. Superhexa’s founder and CEO, Xia Yongfeng, emphasized the potential of wearable AI, predicting that smartphones may soon be seen as inefficient compared to hands-free devices.
The rapid advancements in generative AI have supercharged the capabilities of smart glasses, enabling them to provide real-time assistance—whether answering questions about the surroundings or translating conversations instantly.
The market’s growth is undeniable. Sinolink Securities forecasts that smart glasses shipments could reach 2 million units by the end of the year, a dramatic increase from the 480,000 augmented reality glasses shipped last year. This demand surge underscores the growing consumer appetite for smart eyewear.
In response, Chinese firms are pushing to offer high-tech features at lower costs. Superhexa’s Jiehuan glasses, for instance, come with 11 hours of music playback, a standby time of up to two weeks, and a feather-light design weighing just 30 grams—all at a fraction of the price of competitors.
As the global market for AI-powered smart glasses heats up, Chinese companies are positioning themselves as formidable challengers to established players like Meta, ready to ride the wave of this AI-driven tech revolution.
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