| November 16, 2024
At its annual World Conference in Shanghai, Baidu, known as “China’s Google,” introduced its latest innovation: AI-powered smart glasses. Powered by the company’s ERNIE generative AI technology, these glasses are designed to function as a “private assistant,” with features that enable users to interact seamlessly with their environment.
Key Features of Baidu’s AI Smart Glasses
Baidu’s new glasses bring advanced AI capabilities right to users’ eyes and ears. According to Baidu, users can communicate with the device via voice commands, enabling a wide range of interactions:
- Environmental Awareness: By processing visual inputs, the glasses can answer user questions about objects in their surroundings.
- Entertainment: Users can request music playback and enjoy an immersive hands-free experience.
- Health Tracking: The glasses also include features for tracking calorie intake, adding an element of health monitoring.
- Photography and Video: Equipped with cameras, the device allows users to capture photos and videos instantly, similar to the AI-enabled glasses from other tech giants.
Competition in the AI Glasses Market
Baidu’s glasses could become a popular alternative for Chinese consumers who currently lack access to devices like Meta’s AI smart glasses, which aren’t sold in China due to server restrictions. Meta, in collaboration with Ray-Ban, released AI-integrated smart sunglasses that allow live streaming and photo sharing hands-free; however, Baidu’s localized offering could resonate strongly in its home market. Meta’s latest model, priced at $299, hints at the potential pricing strategy Baidu may adopt, though details on Baidu’s pricing are yet to be disclosed.
Expanding the AI Ecosystem
The Baidu World Conference highlighted the company’s increasing focus on AI. In addition to the smart glasses, Baidu introduced:
- iRAG: A next-gen AI image generator touted to have reduced hallucination issues.
- Code-Free Programming: A new tool aimed at enabling non-coders to create software applications, emphasizing Baidu’s commitment to democratizing AI and tech development.
Despite these advancements, Baidu faces tough competition. ByteDance’s Doubao, for instance, has become China’s leading AI chatbot by monthly active users and is expanding into hardware with recent launches like AI-enabled earbuds.
Baidu’s new AI smart glasses and other offerings demonstrate its strategy to grow its AI ecosystem, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and everyday usability.
