Alibaba Previews Screenless 'Qwen N1' AI Glasses Featuring Iris Recognition Payment

Alibaba showcased a prototype of its new screenless AI smart glasses, code-named "N1", at the 2026 Inclusion Conference on the Bund. The device is the first in the Qwen wearable lineup to introduce iris recognition technology for secure biometric identity verification and payment. Integrating biometric payment authentication directly into smart glasses connects wearable AI hardware closely with fintech and frictionless payment ecosystems. Removing the display screen also lowers manufacturing costs, making AI smart glasses more affordable for mainstream consumers. The N1's iris recognition achieves an error rate of less than one in a million and works alongside eye-tracking technology to authenticate payments at POS terminals in complex environments. Because the device omits a display screen, it is expected to be priced lower than the flagship Qwen S1 model.