Chinese AR Start-Up Rokid Introduces Smart Glasses Powered by Alibaba AI to Compete with Meta
Chinese AR start-up Rokid introduces Rokid Glasses powered by Alibaba's advanced language models. Rokid aims to challenge tech giants like Meta Platforms in the smart glasses market, targeting profitability by 2025. The Rokid Glasses offer essential functionalities at an affordable price point, catering to a broad consumer base.
Founded by former Alibaba Group Holding employee Misa Zhu Mingming, Rokid aims to challenge tech giants like Meta Platforms with its new offering, eyeing profitability by 2025.
The Rokid Glasses are equipped with large language models (LLMs), similar to those used in intelligent chatbots, and mark the company's significant step towards penetrating the consumer market. By utilising Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen family of LLMs, Rokid is poised to make a strong entry into the competitive smart glasses market.
In a move to keep pace with the evolving landscape of generative AI, Rokid's entry into the smart glasses market aligns with a growing trend of technological advancements in this sector. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has also been at the forefront of this trend with its innovative smart glasses line developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban.
While Meta teased the launch of its cutting-edge AR glasses named Orion, affordability remains a challenge for mass production. Rokid's approach involves using a less sophisticated display to offer essential functionalities such as real-time translation, navigation, and digital payments, keeping the glasses lightweight and cost-effective.
Rokid's strategic pricing of the Rokid Glasses at 2,499 yuan (US$345) positions the product as an accessible option for consumers. The company plans to commence shipping in the first half of the upcoming year, targeting sales of hundreds of thousands of units, with a significant portion expected to come from markets outside mainland China.
The AR industry in China, predominantly led by start-ups, has witnessed substantial growth, with Rokid ranking third in market share for AR headsets. With a positive outlook on profitability in the near future, Rokid anticipates significant growth in the global AR industry by 2025, driven by the widespread adoption of advanced language models.
Rokid's expansion plans extend beyond consumer markets, with a focus on business-to-business opportunities in sectors like museums. By offering AR glasses for interactive museum experiences, Rokid aims to tap into a niche market, already serving over 200 museums in mainland China and exploring opportunities in other regions.
Chinese AR start-up Rokid introduces Rokid Glasses powered by Alibaba's advanced language models.
Rokid aims to challenge tech giants like Meta Platforms in the smart glasses market, targeting profitability by 2025.
The Rokid Glasses offer essential functionalities at an affordable price point, catering to a broad consumer base.
Source: SCMP