Alibaba unveils new smart glasses as its AI push moves onto your face

Alibaba has announced a new set of smart glasses. It is the company’s latest step in turning an AI strategy into something people can actually wear. From conference demo to store shelves The glasses story started as a preview. Alibaba first showed its Quark AI Glasses at the World AI Conference in Shanghai in July 2025. Retail came a few months later. The glasses officially went on sale in China on November 27, 2025. The product line was later referred to as Qwen Glasses, after the company’s flagship AI model. Two main variants made up the launch lineup. The premium S1 uses micro-OLED displays and starts at 3,799 yuan, or approximately $537. The lighter G1 is the budget-friendly option. It starts at 1,899 yuan, around $268. Both models run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform. That chip handles the on-device work, while Alibaba’s Qwen AI provides the brains. The feature list reads like a tour of Alibaba’s empire. Users get real-time translation, Alipay payments and Taobao shopping integration. A busy 2026 for the glasses roadmap In March 2026, the Quark Glasses made their global debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. A series of over-the-air updates followed. These are s...