AI Glasses: AWE2026, Alibaba, Qianwen - A Glimpse of China’s Innovation Speed

Last weekend in Shanghai during the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2026. I tried Qianwen AI Glasses G1. As a mom who cooks a lot for my two teenagers, I had one question: Can this actually help in the kitchen?

Three things surprised me:

1. It played my music. I asked for something to cook to, and it knew what I like. No scrolling. Just my vibe, instantly.

2. It handled translation effortlessly. I tested it with a recipe, and it read everything back clearly. No phone. No mess. Just… cooking.

3. I forgot I was wearing tech. At around 40g, they're light. And honestly? They don't look like "smart glasses" 🤓 especially for a contact lenses fan like me.

The real differentiator? "AI办事" (AI Agent): you'll be able to say "order takeout" or "book a hotel" and the glasses will tap into 飞猪Fliggy, 高德Amap, and支付宝 Alipay to get it done. The AI doesn't just talk; it does things! 

At RMB1997 after subsidies? This isn't a gadget. It's AI for everyday life. Affordable for me 😂 

Now here's what's sticking with me: while I'm writing this on my way from Shanghai back to Hong Kong. Same country. Different innovation rhythms.

The gap between what I just experienced here and what's readily available across the border? It's real.

And it makes me think: if the gap is this visible within one country, how much wider is it between East and West?

The question I keep coming back to: How do we drive innovation without boundaries, while matching China's speed?

Not copying. Not competing blindly. But connecting. Translating. Bringing the best of both worlds together. Read the full article on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7439545901641101312/?originTrackingId=J06CfBFRIoUTqBswmFFJsg%3D%3D