The editor of Downcodes has learned that Baidu will release a new smart glasses at the Baidu World Conference in Shanghai next week. The glasses will integrate cameras, voice interaction functions and Baidu Wenxin large models to provide users with a more convenient AI experience. This move comes at a time when the global AI commercialization wave is booming. Many technology companies have launched AI hardware products and competition is fierce. It is worth paying attention to what impact the release of Baidu’s smart glasses will have on the market structure.
According to people familiar with the matter, Baidu will release a new smart glasses product at the Baidu World Conference in Shanghai next week. The glasses will be equipped with a built-in camera, support taking photos and videos, and provide voice interaction functions based on the Baidu Wenxin model.
In the global wave of AI commercialization, 2024 has witnessed the birth of multiple AI hardware products. Although the performance of Humane's Ai Pin is not satisfactory, Microsoft's C o pilot+ PC series has gained market recognition. It is worth noting that the smart glasses jointly created by Meta and Ray-Ban manufacturer Essilor Mingyue, as a relatively mature product, have made significant progress in both functionality and market performance this year. Meta said that product supply exceeds demand, and Essilor Mingyue listed it as one of the main driving forces for sales growth.
Picture from yahoo
As a technology company that has been deeply involved in the field of AI for more than ten years, Baidu’s smart glasses will seamlessly integrate with ecological products such as Baidu Maps and Baidu Encyclopedia. It is reported that the product is expected to be priced lower than Meta’s $299 and will be available for sale as early as 2025.
Baidu’s AI glasses were developed by its hardware unit Xiaodu. Xiaodu Technology received capital injections from investors such as IDG Capital in 2020, with a valuation of US$2.9 billion. At present, Xiaodu's main product lines include smart speakers and wireless headphones, and these devices can be connected to Baidu's content ecosystem.
Although Baidu has a first-mover advantage in the ChatGPT trend, its market position is facing challenges. Doubao, owned by ByteDance, has recently surpassed Wen Xinyiyan and become the most popular AI chatbot in China. Baidu management also acknowledged that displaying AI-generated content in its search business could have a negative impact on short-term advertising revenue.
In the domestic market, many cutting-edge hardware manufacturers have launched AI glasses equipped with cameras and open audio, and some manufacturers focus on specific functions such as translation and navigation. At the same time, according to Bloomberg, Apple is also conducting internal research on related products currently on the market and may enter this field.
Baidu's request for comment has not yet been responded to.
The release of Baidu’s smart glasses indicates that competition in the AI hardware market will further intensify. Its pricing strategy and market performance will become important indicators for testing Baidu's AI strategy. We'll have to wait and see if these glasses can stand out in a crowded market.