Baidu Takes On Meta and ByteDance with Their Own AI Smart Glasses
Baidu, the Chinese tech giant often referred to as “China’s Google,” has now ventured into wearable AI. Recently, the company launched its AI-powered smart glasses called Xiaodu AI glasses. Unveiled at Baidu’s annual World Conference in Shanghai, the device aims to function as a personal AI assistant. Specifically, it responds to voice commands and interacts with the user’s environment.
Powered by Baidu’s ERNIE generative AI technology, the glasses will allow users to ask questions about their surroundings, control music playback, track calorie intake, and even capture photos and videos. The device is set to launch sometime next year, potentially offering Chinese consumers an alternative to smart glasses from Meta and Snap.
While Meta has partnered with Ray-Ban to release smart sunglasses with features like hands-free livestreaming and photo capture, its latest model, integrated with Meta’s generative AI assistant, is not officially available in China due to server restrictions. Baidu’s upcoming glasses, however, could fill this void in the Chinese market.
The Baidu World Conference showcased the company’s strong focus on AI innovation, as it seeks to keep pace with global advancements in the field. Alongside the smart glasses, Baidu introduced iRAG, a new AI image generator that aims to reduce hallucinations compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the company unveiled a tool that empowers users to create software programs without coding knowledge.
In the competitive landscape of AI chatbots, ByteDance’s Doubao has emerged as the leading platform in China, according to Sensor Tower. ByteDance is also expanding its hardware offerings, recently launching a pair of earbuds with access to the Doubao AI assistant.
