Alibaba Unveils Qwen AI Smart Glasses, Shares Rise 2%

Alibaba Group’s U.S.-listed shares climbed nearly 2% in pre-market trading on Wednesday after the Chinese technology giant introduced its latest Qwen AI smart glasses, strengthening its push into artificial intelligence-powered wearable devices.

The company unveiled the new Qwen Glasses N1 series during an event in Hangzhou on Tuesday, with prices starting at 2,999 yuan ($450) before discounts. The launch highlights Alibaba’s growing ambitions to compete with Meta Platforms in the rapidly expanding AI smart glasses market.

Unlike companies focusing on affordability, Alibaba has positioned its latest wearable technology around advanced features and performance. The starting price is comparable to or higher than Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, signaling a strategy centered on premium AI capabilities rather than aggressive pricing.

The Qwen Glasses N1 series features upgraded 50-megapixel cameras and improved sensors, according to Wu Jianjun, general manager of Qwen AI hardware products. Alibaba also introduced a Pro version priced at 3,499 yuan, which includes eye-tracking technology for enhanced user interaction.

Battery performance is another key feature, with Alibaba claiming the glasses can deliver up to 25 hours of standby time or nine hours of music playback on a single charge.

The latest release comes approximately one year after Alibaba introduced its first-generation smart glasses in November. The updated models offer deeper integration with the company's Qwen AI assistant, allowing users to interact with artificial intelligence through bone-conduction microphones.

Beyond voice assistance, the smart glasses support online shopping, digital payments and health monitoring, expanding their potential role in everyday activities.

Alibaba’s strategy closely resembles Meta’s efforts to establish smart glasses as a primary platform for AI-powered services. Last month, Meta introduced a simplified camera-free model priced at $349, primarily designed to work with its Muse AI assistant.

Alibaba Chief Executive Eddie Wu recently reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing a comprehensive AI ecosystem spanning large language models, chatbot applications, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure and consumer hardware.

The launch reinforces Alibaba’s position as a full-stack AI provider while intensifying competition in the global wearable technology market. By integrating its Qwen assistant into smart glasses, Alibaba aims to make AI services more accessible through everyday consumer devices.