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Alibaba’s new Quark AI glasses enter China’s AI wearables market with smart features and deep app integration.

Alibaba has taken a bold step into the global wearables race with the launch of its new Quark AI glasses in China. 

The product, unveiled on Thursday, signals the tech giant’s renewed push to compete with Meta and other international players dominating the AI-driven gadget space.

Unlike the bulky headsets often associated with virtual reality, Alibaba’s Quark glasses look like everyday eyewear. 

The black-framed device starts at 1,899 yuan (about $268) and runs on the company’s Qwen AI model, giving it a more personal and practical touch.

Alibaba says the glasses will work closely with its ecosystem of apps, especially Taobao and Alipay. Users can translate languages on the go, check prices instantly while shopping, and access several daily-life tools hands-free.

Beijing-based analyst Li Chengdong believes Alibaba is leaning on its strongest areas  shopping, navigation, and payments to turn the glasses into a “life assistant” rather than a pure entertainment gadget. 

The company has trailed its rivals in consumer AI for years, making this launch a fresh attempt to regain relevance. Earlier this month, it also rolled out a major upgrade to its AI chatbot.

According to Li, Alibaba’s strategy goes beyond selling hardware. The goal is to secure the “next traffic gateway” in China’s increasingly crowded e-commerce market. With competition at an all-time high, AI-powered wearables could shape the next battlefront.

The Quark AI glasses are already listed on major platforms including Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin. Official sales numbers are yet to be released since the product only became available on Thursday.

As big tech companies search for the next device that blends entertainment, computing, and AI, the stakes continue to rise. Meta still dominates the VR space with around 80% of global market share. 

Other global players such as Apple with the Vision Pro, and Samsung with its Galaxy XR headset, are also carving out their own lanes.

Chinese firms aren’t sitting idle either. Xiaomi rolled out its own AI glasses in June, while Baidu already has a similar device in the market making the field even more competitive.

Alibaba’s entry adds fresh heat to an already intense race, and the coming months will show whether the Quark glasses can hold their own against industry giants.