Alibaba Unveils Qianwen N1 AI Glasses Featuring Eye Tracking and Iris Payment
At the Apsara Conference, Alibaba introduced its Qianwen AI Glasses N1 series and AI clip-on earbuds, set to launch on October 13. The N1 Pro model features eye tracking for gaze-based AI query selection and iris recognition for secure biometric payments. This launch illustrates the transition of AI from mobile apps into dedicated wearable hardware acting as proactive personal agents. Integrating gaze detection and biometric payments allows smart glasses to understand user intent naturally from a first-person perspective. The N1 glasses include a 50 MP camera sensor for first-person image capture, while the accompanying clip-on earbuds integrate Bose-tuned audio for real-time translation and voice note-taking. Executive Song Gang emphasized that Qianwen wearables are designed to continuously perceive context to move AI from waiting for prompts to offering proactive services.
## BACKGROUND
Eye-tracking technology uses micro-sensors and infrared cameras to monitor eye position and gaze direction, enabling wearable systems to identify exact real-world objects a user is pointing their eyes toward. Iris payment relies on iris recognition, a biometric authentication technique that scans the unique complex patterns of an individual's eye iris to verify financial transactions.