Following the completion of the first smart glasses-enabled e-wallet transaction in Hong Kong, Alipay+ and Meizu are spearheading a global revolution in wearable payments. Led by Ant International, a subsidiary of Ant Group, the transaction marks the transition of hands-free, screen-free payments from concept to reality—and now, to a global rollout.
The pilot utilized Meizu’s StarV Snap smart glasses, embedded with an AlipayHK payment module. Users can complete transactions by scanning QR codes and using voice commands. This innovative payment process is powered by Alipay+’s AI system, which supports voice recognition, intent understanding, and voiceprint authentication—bringing to life the concept of “pay with a glance, checkout with a word.”
A New Digital Wallet Ecosystem Takes Shape
This payment technology reflects not only Ant Group’s technological prowess but also represents a significant step in its global digital wallet strategy. Alipay+ plans to extend this functionality to its 36 e-wallet partners across Asia and Europe, including GrabPay and Line Pay—reaching over 1.7 billion users in more than 70 markets.
Guo Peng, General Manager of Meizu’s XR Division, stated, “The offline payment function of smart glasses launched overseas by Meizu and Alipay+ has set a new technological benchmark for the industry.”
This innovation is built on Meizu’s proprietary waveguide display, QR-scanning camera, and noise-canceling microphone, with deep software integration enabled by the Alipay+ SDK. The shift from phone-based to face-based devices in payment scenarios truly frees the user’s hands and improves interaction efficiency.
Wearability in smart glasses is no longer new, but what grants them real everyday value is the comprehensive integration of AI. With voice assistants, real-time translation, information search, and social interactions, this generation of smart glasses is evolving from “tech gadgets” into productivity tools and lifestyle companions.
According to PYMNTS Intelligence, Gen Z and millennial users are driving the trend toward “hands-free connectivity,” showing a preference for AI-powered devices during commuting, shopping, and multitasking in travel scenarios.
David Jiang, CEO of Viture and former Google Glass team member, noted, “We used to lack a compelling reason for people to wear smart glasses daily. But now, the technology is ready. With widespread 5G, increasingly intelligent AI, and a growing content ecosystem, it’s all becoming possible.”
AI Platforms and the “Super Wallet” Vision
In addition to promoting smart glasses payment capabilities, Alipay+ is building a “super wallet” ecosystem for global markets. The platform supports not only QR codes and NFC-based payments, but also provides a generative AI-as-a-service infrastructure to help wallet partners quickly integrate smart customer service, personalized recommendations, and more.
Yang Jiangming, Chief Innovation Officer at Ant International, said, “We believe smart glasses will be the next personal device after smartphones. Our partnership with Meizu is just the beginning. In the future, more AI-powered payment scenarios will emerge.”
Though the technology is maturing, the real challenge lies in user adoption. For smart glasses to become everyday essentials like smartphones, improvements in comfort, privacy protection, and practical functionality are still necessary.
If smart glasses can expand beyond seamless payments to include navigation, information access, and health monitoring, their widespread adoption may accelerate.
Starting with the collaboration between Alipay+ and Meizu, global payment methods are entering a new era—one where you can see it, say it, and use it. In the future, payment may truly require nothing more than a glance or a word.