Alipay+, a mobile payment platform under Ant International, has launched the use of smart glasses for digital payments, marking its first transaction outside mainland China in Hong Kong.

Alipay+ completed the transaction using Meizu’s StarV smart glasses and AlipayHK, Ant Group’s platform in Hong Kong, according to a company announcement on June 19, 2025.

The transaction involved scanning a QR code and confirming the payment via voice command. Ant’s AI system managed the voice interface and authentication.

This move is part of Ant International’s initiative to broaden the applications of AI-powered smart eyewear.

Ant Group plans to expand the adoption of smart glasses for payments globally. This will be achieved through its network of e-wallet partners, which includes 36 mobile payment applications such as Line Pay and GrabPay.

The market for smart glasses is growing, with global shipments reaching 1.6 million units in 2024, according to Beijing-based research firm Runto. This trend indicates a rising interest in integrating such devices into everyday activities, including digital payments.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Smart glasses face historical adoption challenges despite technological advancements

Ant Group’s payment-enabled glasses represent the latest attempt to address persistent adoption barriers that have challenged smart eyewear for over a decade.

Previous high-profile ventures like Google Glass (2014, priced at $1,500) and Recon Instruments (acquired by Intel in 2015 but discontinued by 2017) failed to achieve mainstream adoption despite significant investments 1.

Smart glasses manufacturers have consistently struggled with fundamental challenges including battery limitations, display quality issues, and privacy concerns around embedded cameras 2.

The global smart glasses market remains relatively small despite recent growth, with shipments only reaching 1.6 million units in 2024 according to Beijing-based Runto research (mentioned in the original article).

Ant’s approach differs by focusing on a specific, practical use case—payments—rather than attempting to create an all-purpose computing device, potentially addressing the “killer app” problem that hampered previous generations of smart eyewear.

Industry analysts remain divided on consumer adoption prospects, with some research suggesting smart glasses will remain limited to niche applications rather than achieving widespread consumer use through 2025 3.

2️⃣ China’s mobile payment ecosystem provides unique foundation for wearable innovation