AI Glasses Are Ushering in an "iPhone Moment": The Experience Revolution Is Underway

According to an IDC report, global smart glasses shipments reached 1.487 million units in the first quarter of this year, with the Chinese market accounting for 494,000 units, representing year-on-year growth of 82.3% and 116.1%, respectively. Annual global shipments are expected to reach 15 million units, with the Chinese market accounting for approximately 1.5 million units. This growth momentum is projected to continue in the coming years.

Despite strong market performance, the AI glasses industry is still in its infancy and faces multiple challenges. Yu Chun, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University's Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory, pointed out that current AI glasses functionalities are primarily focused on basic interactions, such as photography, translation, prompt display, and simple dialogues. "There remains a significant gap in overall capabilities compared to smartphones," he noted.

The industry believes that the core value of AI glasses lies in becoming a "native AI entry point," reconstructing the digital life service model. This reconstruction is reflected in three dimensions:

• Service forms evolve from "flat perception" to "spatial cognition," leveraging spatial computing technology to deeply integrate digital information with the physical environment;

• Interaction methods shift from "linear commands" to "sensory interaction," enabling more natural and efficient communication between humans and devices through multimodal interaction;

• Experience models transition from "vertical scenarios" to "life services," providing personalized and proactive services through environmental awareness.

Issues such as fragmented chip and system selections, severe ecosystem fragmentation, and a lack of unified standards collectively hinder the full realization of AI glasses' service potential. As Chen Liang, Chief Technology Officer of Ant Group's Greater Security, stated, "The ecosystem for AI glasses still has 'missing pieces.' To achieve a mature digital service ecosystem, critical 'cornerstones' and 'bridges' are still lacking."

In response to these challenges, various segments of the industry chain are actively seeking breakthroughs. GoerTek has reduced the weight of smart glasses to between 36 and 58 grams through the application of new materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium alloy, along with structural optimization, bringing the wearing experience closer to that of ordinary glasses. Bestechnic has lowered voice standby power consumption to around 10 milliwatts, making all-day wear possible. Qualcomm's AR1 platform, specifically designed for smart glasses, delivers stronger performance in a smaller form factor, significantly improving energy efficiency.