Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) has started preorders for its smart AI glasses, officially called Quark AI Glasses. The product introduction marks the company’s launch into consumer-focused wearable AI hardware. The first customer orders for the Quark AI glasses are slated to begin in December.
The smart AI glasses are priced at about $660 for the public, with discounts offered for Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) members. Initially, the main market focus is China, with availability through Alibaba’s (BABA) Tmall platform. There have been strong indications that Alibaba (BABA) plans to expand internationally if the China launch is successful.
The Quark AI Glasses have a deep integration into Alibaba’s (BABA) digital ecosystem. The device connects directly to services like Alipay for hands-free payments, Amap for augmented reality navigation, Taobao for real-time product recognition and price comparison, and Fliggy for travel information. The glasses run on powerful Qualcomm (QCOM) AR1 and BES2800 dual flagship chips. They operate primarily through voice commands powered by Alibaba’s (BABA) proprietary Qwen large language model and the new Quark AI assistant. This allows users to perform real-time language translation, transcribe meetings, make hands-free calls, play music, and interact with the new AI chatbot within the Quark app.
Alibaba (BABA) is selling a standard AI variant and a premium AI+AR model. Both models include a 12-megapixel Sony camera with an advanced night mode for high-quality photos, even in low light. Sound and communication are enhanced by dual off-ear speakers and multiple microphones, supporting effective noise isolation and clear audio experiences.
Looking ahead, Alibaba (BABA) thinks it can position the Quark AI Glasses to be appealing to both enterprise and retail users interested in practical applications of wearable AI. The product could be a direct challenger to Meta Platform’s (NASDAQ:META) AI glasses as it expands to new markets.