Xiaomi, the renowned Chinese smartphone manufacturer and electric vehicle (EV) producer, is poised to unveil its first-ever artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart glasses this Thursday. This significant step into the burgeoning smart eyewear market underscores the company's ambition to innovate beyond its traditional domains, engaging in an arena that is swiftly growing yet highly competitive in China.

According to a promotional image shared on its official Weibo account, Xiaomi is branding its new smart glasses as a “next-generation personal smart gadget.” This designation hints at features designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily lives of users, enhancing their experiences. The company’s co-founder and CEO, Lei Jun, has touted the glasses' capabilities, which include capturing first-person video footage and responding to voice commands—capabilities that reflect modern expectations for smart glasses, similar to offerings from industry leaders like Meta Platforms and Ray-Ban.

The official launch event, aptly named “Human x Car x Home,” is scheduled for Thursday evening. During this highly anticipated presentation, Xiaomi is not only expected to reveal the pricing of the smart glasses but also introduce a range of other innovative products. These include their latest foldable smartphone and their inaugural SUV, showcasing the company's diverse portfolio.

In the lead-up to the event, Xiaomi released two teaser videos that highlight the functionality of the smart glasses. The videos demonstrate the glasses' ability to “see and recognize” various objects in the user's environment. Notably, the glasses can provide information on a variety of subjects, thanks to generative AI technology. In these demonstrations, users were shown asking the glasses to identify different plants, estimate the calorie content of meals, and explain the dietary habits of capybaras, showcasing a blend of utility and curiosity.

Despite the absence of specific pricing details or technical specifications ahead of the launch, there is significant consumer anticipation surrounding the AI glasses. Reports from local media indicated last year that Xiaomi intended to roll out these smart glasses within this year, piquing interest among tech enthusiasts and potential customers alike.

Industry experts, such as those from WellsennXR—an organization specializing in augmented reality and extended reality—believe that the smart glasses are likely to incorporate Qualcomm’s AR1 chip. This chip is noteworthy as it is the same technology utilized in the popular Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, suggesting that Xiaomi aims to compete directly with existing leaders in the market.

Currently, Meta’s smart glasses dominate the landscape, holding more than 60 percent of the global AI glasses market share as of last year, according to findings from market consultancy Counterpoint. Xiaomi's entry into this space could potentially stir competition, leading to further innovations and offerings in the realm of smart eyewear.