Dissecting the "Hundred Mirrors War": How to Emerge Victorious in the AI

Introduction

The AI glasses market is currently witnessing a fierce competition, often referred to as the "hundred mirrors war." This article aims to delve into the core aspects of AI glasses, focusing on user needs, product logic, and the product itself, rather than analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each product or making long-term predictions. By examining the market competition landscape, functional scenarios, operating systems, the significance of AI, interaction methods, display technology, and the glasses themselves, we can gain insights into how to create a successful AI glasses product.

Market Competition Landscape

Revisiting the "Impossible Triangle" of AI Glasses

The concept of the "impossible triangle" in AR glasses—performance, battery life, and user experience—still holds true for AI glasses. While it is relatively easy for companies with hardware capabilities to produce AI glasses, the real challenge lies in achieving a balance between these three aspects. Specifically, creating a lightweight (35-50g) AI glasses with excellent sensor performance and battery life is the key to success.

Currently, battery life remains a significant issue. For instance, Rayban Meta can only record video for half an hour on a full charge, which is far from sufficient for all-day use. To address this, the industry needs to focus on developing small-sized components that can provide excellent sensor performance and extended battery life.

Who Will Emerge Victorious in the Hundred Mirrors War?

In 2025, the AI glasses market will see nearly a hundred brands competing. To stand out, companies need to understand the core of AI glasses: the integration of smartphones and large language models (LLMs). There are three main types of companies in this space:

1. Smart Hardware Startups: These companies have experience in hardware development but lack resources to create极致 (ultimate) products and do not have their own LLMs or smartphones.

2. LLM and Internet Companies: These companies have strong LLM capabilities but lack hardware experience. They need to rely on supply chains to develop AI glasses, focusing on the synergy between AI glasses and LLMs.

3. Smartphone Companies: These companies have their own smartphones and end-side LLMs, making them well-suited for developing general-purpose AI glasses. However, they may lack cloud-based LLMs or have ones that are not as effective.

The ideal AI glasses brand should have its own smartphone, end-side small models, cloud-based multimodal LLMs, glasses OS capabilities, and IoT ecosystem integration.

Functional Scenarios

Beyond Rayban Meta's Features

To achieve mass adoption, AI glasses need more than just camera, music playback, and AI voice query functions. The two main product forms are AI glasses with and without display modules.

• AI Glasses Without Display Modules: These rely on cameras and microphones to generate content, such as longer video recording, Live Photos, and continuous image capture. However, their output is limited to auditory feedback, making it challenging to provide a good user experience for functions that are typically visual, such as notifications, translations, and navigation.

• AI Glasses With Display Modules: These offer a broader range of functions, including visual feedback, which can significantly enhance user experience. They can support features like floating notifications, text translation, teleprompting, voice queries, and component interactions.

The Significance of AI in Glasses

AI is crucial for making AI glasses useful in daily life. It enables features like real-time translation, object recognition, and contextual awareness. For example, Rayban Meta's OTA updates have introduced features like face-to-face translation and live AI, which rely heavily on AI capabilities.

Interaction Methods

Ideal Interaction for AI Glasses

The ideal interaction time for AI glasses should be within 5 seconds, as extended interactions can be inconvenient. Future interactions may involve eye tracking and micro-gestures, but the success of these methods depends on the field of view (FOV) and color accuracy of the display.

Display Technology

The Necessity of Display in AI Glasses

AI glasses will inevitably incorporate display technology. The choice of display technology depends on its maturity and feasibility. Currently, single-color waveguide displays are relatively mature, but they lack familiarity for users. Color displays are in the early stages of development and will likely become more prevalent in the next few years.

The Glasses Themselves

Design and User Acceptance

AI glasses should aim to be as close to traditional glasses as possible in terms of weight, appearance, and wearing experience. However, due to the need for components, AI glasses will always have some weight and thickness. The key is to focus on the "willingness to wear" within a limited time frame.

Conclusion

To succeed in the AI glasses market, companies need to focus on user needs, product logic, and the product itself. By addressing the challenges of battery life, sensor performance, and user experience, and by leveraging AI capabilities, companies can create AI glasses that stand out in the competitive landscape. The future of AI glasses lies in their ability to seamlessly integrate into daily life, providing users with a convenient and intuitive way to interact with technology.