In the context of continuous technological development, the craze for AI glasses has quickly surged both domestically and internationally. On January 7, 2024, Thunderbird Innovation officially launched the first pair of shooting glasses equipped with Alibaba's customized intent recognition large model, the Thunderbird V3AI. This product release marks the first time in China that a large model has been customized to collaborate with AI glasses hardware, aiming to accelerate the application of edge-side models in AI glasses.
The launch event emphasized that the rapid growth of the AI glasses market has been influenced by the introduction of second-generation shooting glasses by companies such as Meta and Ray-Ban. Thunderbird's founder, Li Hongwei, stated that 2025 is expected to be the "year of the century battle" for smart glasses. Industry analysts pointed out that although the technology combining large models with AI glasses is becoming increasingly mature, the overall application ecosystem is still in its early stages. The market prospects for AI glasses are vast, but future development will focus more on innovations in wearable devices like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
The main features of the Thunderbird V3AI shooting glasses include AI summaries of mobile notifications, QQ Music playback, AI news podcasts, and more applications are expected to be launched in the first half of 2025. Additionally, the glasses incorporate image quality algorithms from Hongsoft Technology, a company listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board, and showcase advancements in AR optics technology, including the self-developed "Firefly Light Engine."
Not only in the domestic market, but several manufacturers are also actively exploring overseas markets. For example, XREAL's products have entered multiple countries, including the United States and Europe, and plans are underway to accelerate localization. Flash Technology is further expanding its market share by establishing a sales team in Europe.
However, despite the active market, IDC analysts point out that current products combining large models with AI glasses tend to focus on simple Q&A scenarios, resulting in severe homogenization and failing to meet user needs. Looking ahead, experts predict that the AI glasses market will enter a rapid development phase in 2025, especially with broader application prospects in fields such as healthcare and industry.
