Alibaba has officially entered the rapidly growing AI wearables race, unveiling its new Quark AI-powered smart glasses in China. The launch marks the e-commerce giant’s boldest move yet into the consumer AI space as it looks to compete with global giants like Meta, Apple and Samsung. Priced at 1,899 yuan (roughly Rs. 21,800), the Quark Glasses are powered by Alibaba’s in-house Quon AI model and associated apps. But unlike bulky headsets like the Meta Quest or Apple’s Vision Pro, Alibaba’s latest gadget keeps things sleek, with the glasses looking like a regular pair of black-rimmed specs rather than futuristic hardware strapped to your face.

The company says the Quark glasses are designed for “everyday AI”, combining utility with subtle design. From on-the-go translation and instant price recognition to integration with Alibaba’s Alipay and Taobao, the glasses aim to simplify daily tasks through context-aware intelligence.

Alibaba joins the AI ​​hardware race with Quark smart glasses

For years, Alibaba has dominated China’s e-commerce and cloud industries, but has lagged behind rivals in consumer hardware and AI-powered products. It appears that change is happening. The company is now accelerating its efforts to bring its AI research into physical products that consumers can wear, touch, and interact with.

Earlier this year, Alibaba introduced a major upgrade to its Quen chatbot, which is the main intelligence behind the new glasses. The integration means users can issue commands, ask questions or get recommendations directly through the Quark device.

Alibaba described the launch as part of its broader vision to create a “seamless AI ecosystem” by blending its shopping, payments and content platforms with advanced artificial intelligence. By combining Quon’s generative AI capabilities with real-world tools, Alibaba hopes to bridge the gap between software and lifestyle technology.

However, Alibaba’s strength lies in its vast ecosystem. By tightly integrating Quark Glass with apps like Taobao (for shopping) and Alipay (for payments), it can give users a seamless experience unmatched by standalone devices. Imagine browsing products through your Glasses, comparing prices, or making payments with quick voice commands, all without reaching for your phone.

The company has not yet revealed a global release date, but has confirmed that an international rollout is planned for 2026, starting with select markets in Asia and Europe. Analysts believe that if priced competitively, the Quark glasses could challenge Meta’s dominance in the mid-tier wearable segment, especially among younger consumers seeking fashion-forward technology.

China’s growing smart glasses scene

Alibaba is far from the only Chinese tech company eyeing the AI ​​eyewear market. Xiaomi unveiled its own smart glasses in June, offering live translation and navigation tools, while Baidu has already released a pair capable of overlaying real-time information. Together, they are turning China into one of the most competitive frontiers for AI-powered personal devices.

As Alibaba joins the growing list of tech giants betting on AI wearables, the question is not whether these devices will become mainstream, but which company will transform them from novelty to necessity. With Quark glasses, Alibaba is signaling that it intends to be in for the long haul.

The company’s entry comes at a time when the global market for AI-powered wearables is heating up rapidly. According to industry estimates, Meta currently dominates the extended reality (XR) and smart headset sector with about 80 percent market share, driven by its Quest series and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro, though ultra-premium, has helped redefine the segment as a high-end computing device, while Samsung’s Galaxy XR, launched in partnership with Google earlier this year, has introduced new AI features aimed at entertainment and productivity.