In January 2025, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes center stage in the bustling city of Las VegasKnown as a barometer for the technology industry, this year's CES is set to showcase over 4,500 exhibitors, but one category stands out among the rest: wearable technologyWithin this broad category, smart glasses and smart rings have emerged as the stars of the show, capturing the interest of attendees and industry professionals alike.

Notably, research reveals that more than 80 companies from China focused on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will participate in the eventAmong the array of innovations presented, dozens of new AI-powered AR glasses are expected to steal the spotlight, highlighting the evolution of these technologies in 2025. Industry insiders have suggested that VR and AR technology has once again become a focal point, showcasing new trends such as lightweight designs, high-definition displays, and enhanced smart interactions, particularly as they converge with artificial intelligence (AI). In essence, this year's CES not only reflects the technological advancements of the past but also serves as a glimpse into the innovations on the horizon.

One of the significant themes at CES 2025 is the synergy between large-scale AI models and smart glasses, as the use of artificial intelligence permeates various domains, altering how people live and work

The rise of AI has prompted a shift away from traditional human-computer interfaces—such as PCs and smartphones—toward more intuitive and efficient interactions, revolutionizing personal and professional landscapes.

The advent of wearable smart devices is a direct response to this growing demand for smarter interaction methodsThe development trajectory of combining AI with AR points toward enhanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities and immersive displaysKey applications for such advancements include real-time translation, navigation, video conferencing, and personal assistant functions, where swift text processing, accurate intelligent querying, nuanced semantic understanding, and efficient command recognition come to the forefrontAmidst this innovative atmosphere at CES, AR hardware companies are expected to adopt a dual approach of in-house development and collaboration with leading AI model developers to continuously refine user interactions with these new productivity tools.

A prime example of this trend is ThunderBird Innovations, which unveiled its ThunderBird V3 AI Shooting Glasses at CES 2025. Adorned with cutting-edge technology such as the Falcon Imaging System and a customized AI model from Tongyi Qianwen, these glasses mark a significant leap in wearable tech

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Alongside the first-generation flagship Snapdragon® AR1 chip and bespoke speaker designs, the glasses are engineered to provide a seamless and intelligent user experience.

ThunderBird's collaboration with Alibaba created the industry's first AI model specifically tailored for smart glassesThis innovative partnership challenges the notion of conventional AI models by introducing a completely integrated multi-modal interaction architecture, allowing for highly responsive, low-latency, and high-quality AI interactionsThe two companies plan to explore further customized features based on real-world usage scenarios, with an ongoing commitment to iterative updates on the ThunderBird AI glasses.

Li Hongwei, the founder and CEO of ThunderBird Innovations, emphasized the potential of AR glasses as an ideal medium for AI integrationHe noted that partnering with Alibaba was a mutual decision rooted in their shared goal of creating an AI and AR ecosystem that prioritized genuine user-driven experiences rather than simply overlaying generic models onto hardware

Such insights illustrate the significant shifts occurring in the tech landscape and underline the need for industry alliances that encompass growth and innovation.

Equally noteworthy are Rokid Glasses, which also leverage the Tongyi Qianwen modelThis AR eyewear incorporates an AI assistant capable of making phone calls, answering questions, recognizing objects, capturing photos, and providing multi-language translations and health remindersCompanies like XREAL and Shanjing Technology are also aiming to enhance their AR glasses by integrating high-performance AI models, showcasing the industry's competitive climate as it strives for excellence.

According to research by the China International Capital Corporation (CICC), AI-enabled glasses that accommodate multi-modal AI models have the potential to drive transformative trends in the industryThe rollout of models like ChatGPT-4o and Doubao Vision promises to accelerate the adoption of multi-modal AI, indicating a substantial shift in market perceptions regarding AI capabilities

These AI/AR glasses, featuring cameras, microphones, and speakers among other sensors, facilitate real-time data capture, interactive responses, and may redefine expectations for multi-modal AI terminals.

As the momentum builds, Li Hongwei foresees 2025 as a critical battleground for AI glasses, fundamentally ignited by the introduction of the second-generation AI glasses from Ray-Ban and MetaUpon release, these devices captured the market's attention, sparking interest and competition.

The concept of AI glasses is not entirely new; it first entered the mainstream when Google launched its Google Glass in 2012. This groundbreaking product came equipped with cameras, microphones, speakers, and various sensors to facilitate user interactions through voice commands and touchHowever, the product ultimately failed to resonate with consumers, resulting in the suspension of its sales by 2015.

Meta, in collaboration with Ray-Ban, re-entered the market by releasing the Ray-Ban Stories in September 2021. Despite initial excitement, the response was underwhelming, with just 300,000 units sold by February 2023.

Conversely, the September 2023 introduction of the Ray-Ban Meta marks a significant evolution in smart eyewear

This version received enthusiastic feedback from the market, with IDC data indicating shipment numbers soaring to 360,000 and 100,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, respectivelyBy the end of the second quarter of 2024, total shipments surpassed one million units, with projections suggesting an overall total may exceed 1.5 million units for the year.

This surge in interest lays the groundwork for the AI glasses craze of 2024. Li Hongwei highlights Meta's attention to detail in design, comparable to that of Apple, suggesting that the Ray-Ban Meta stands as the premier choice for affordable smart glasses under 3,000 yuan.

As domestic AR eyewear manufacturers begin to strategize based on insights from Meta, they are keen to surpass competitors in terms of weight, battery life, and comfortThunderBird Innovations exemplifies this ambition by positioning itself to construct a device that can outshine Meta, evidenced by the ultra-lightweight design of the ThunderBird V3, weighing a mere 39 grams, along with high-quality optics and superior audio components.

Additionally, contrasting with the 12MP ultra-wide lens and support for 1080P/60fps video recording offered by Ray-Ban Meta, ThunderBird has made substantial improvements in audio, enhancing bass and raising overall volume levels.

Moreover, the competition extends beyond traditional AR glassmakers; companies like Baidu, Huawei, and Meizu have also entered the fray, contributing to what has been termed a “battle of a hundred glasses.”

Despite the potential, industry observer Liang Zhenpeng articulates the nascent state of China's AI glasses market