Fashionable eyewear devices could be the best at adopting and enabling Al adoption

THE search for a perfect AI hardware is on and takes many forms. One of them comes in the form of eyewear products that are touted as the next outlet for rendering AI services. Tech companies have tried eyewear devices, however, they were lacking in style and game changing technology. This time around many have improved on the looks and technology.

- WESLEY DIPHOKO

The Meta RayBan collaboration is one of the great examples of merging technology and fashion. It is packed with AI that features technology in ways we've not seen before.

In June this year, Xiaomi officially entered the smart glasses market with the launch of its first Al-powered eyewear, positioning itself as a rival to Meta’s RayBan collaboration.

The glasses are powered by Xiaomi’s XiaoAl assistant, enabling users to perform a range of tasks via voice command, including capturing video and photos, recognizing objects, translating text, and scanning QR codes for mobile payments via Alipay. The device has capability to handle first-person video calls and live streaming.

Xiaomi’s entry into smart eyewear follows similar moves by other major Chinese firms. Huawei introduced its latest AI glasses in April, which feature voice and translation tools but lack a camera. Baidu is preparing to release its own camera-equipped Xiaodu AI glasses later this year, powered by its Ernie AI models.

The eyewear space is getting crowded quickly. It also signals a move from smartphones to other form factors that may dominate in future.