Baidu World 2024 conference, Baidu released its first pair of glasses - XiaoDu AI Glasses today (November 12th), claiming the product as the 'world's first native AI glasses equipped with a large Chinese model,' featuring functions such as first-person shooting, asking while walking, object recognition, audio-visual translation, and intelligent reminders.

It is introduced that the glasses are based on the Wenxin large model. Thanks to the complete reconstruction of the DuerOS AI native operating system based on Baidu's Wenxin large model earlier this year, XiaoDu achieved significant improvements in model usage effects and efficiency. For example, in AI chat conversations, with the application of large model capabilities, the number of interactions between XiaoDu devices and users has increased by 7 times.

By combining edge and cloud with a large model, XiaoDu AI Glasses can be used independently or paired with an app.

In addition, the Xiaodu AI glasses weigh only 45g; equipped with a 16 million pixel ultra-wide-angle camera, featuring a self-developed AI anti-shake algorithm; combined with four-array microphones and custom open leak-proof speaker units, it can recognize the direction of the sound source, distinguish the wearer from others; adopts a low-power circuit architecture design, can achieve 56 hours of standby time, support listening for over 5 hours continuously, and can be fully charged in 30 minutes.

Li Ying, Vice President of Baidu Group and CEO of Xiaodu Technology, stated that Xiaodu AI glasses will be officially launched in the first half of next year. Li Ying mentioned that as the first-person perspective device for humans, the ability of AI glasses to capture visual, auditory, and positional information will bring unprecedented sensory extension to people, and will undoubtedly become a more efficient and convenient human-computer interaction gateway.

Currently, Xiaodu AI glasses have only released promotional videos in the Xiaodu Mall. Journalists from the "Star Market Daily" learned from the on-site booth staff that the price of this smart glasses has not been finally determined yet, possibly a little over 2000 yuan.

This smart glasses is developed by Xiaodu Technology, a subsidiary of Baidu. Formerly part of Baidu's Intelligent Life business group, Xiaodu Technology became an independent operation in 2020, with its self-branded devices covering various categories of smart hardware such as smart screens/speakers, smart learning machines, girlfriend machines, fitness mirrors, AI tablets, and robot machines.

Apart from Baidu, many major consumer electronics manufacturers are actively developing smart glasses. According to incomplete statistics from the "Star Market Daily", the current mainstream smart glasses on the market are priced around 2000 yuan, with no obvious pricing advantage for Baidu AI glasses:

Ray-Ban Meta: Jointly developed by Meta and the eyewear giant Luxottica's brand Ray-Ban, priced from $299 (approximately 2160 yuan);

Rokid's Rokid AR Lite and Rokid Max Pro AR glasses, starting at 4499 yuan.

The Thunderbird Air 3 and Thunderbird X2 under the Thunderbird Innovation are priced at 1699 yuan and 4999 yuan respectively.

Industrial Securities stated that headphones and glasses are expected to become important carriers for edge-side AI, mainly considering: 1) Voice and image are two important interaction methods, especially voice, as the main interaction entrance for current AI agents, the importance is self-evident, headphones and glasses can play a good role in voice interaction; 2) Headphones and glasses have portability and basic wearability, lightweight, without burdening users with wearing; 3) Price advantage, compared to other terminals, headphones and glasses are cheaper and are expected to penetrate faster.

The AI+ glasses market is gradually rising, especially with the great success of Ray-ban Meta, sales further increased after joining Llama3, and the future growth space of AI+ glasses is huge. Compared to AI headphones, the AI glasses industry chain is relatively early stage, SoC chips and contract manufacturers are similar to AI headphones, if they have display functions, they are AR glasses.

BOC International stated that the iteration of AR glasses hardware and software is accelerating, the development speed and industry space are promising, and it is recommended to deeply participate in companies in the AR glasses supply chain with core barriers.

Regarding complete unit assembly, including Goertek Inc., Luxshare Precision Industry, and Longqi Technology which are expected to support major customers; in terms of SoC, focus on Hengxuan Technology, which is expected to establish advantages in low-power AR exclusive SoCs; in terms of micro-display optical engines, pay attention to the LCoS supplier Will Semiconductor, recommending attention to Sunny Optical Technology, Fujian Forecam Optics; in terms of diffraction light waveguide solutions with core leading advantages, focus on Goertek Inc., recommend attention to Sunny Optical Technology, AAC Tech, Zhejiang Lante Optics, Medike; in terms of acoustics, focus on Goertek Inc. and Memsensing Microsystems(Suzhou, China)Co.,Ltd. which are expected to benefit from the upgrading trend of microphones and speakers for AR glasses; in terms of PCB, focus on Avary Holding which benefits from the trend of increasing integration of FPC for AR glasses.