In a groundbreaking leap for wearable technology, Chinese tech firm Rokid announced on June 17 that its augmented reality (AR) glasses have become the world’s first smart eyewear with integrated payment capabilities. Founder and CEO Zhu Mingming sat down with CGTN’s Mike Walter to discuss the innovation’s potential to reshape daily life and address global digital inequities.
Zhu emphasized the challenges of miniaturizing payment systems for AR devices while maintaining security standards. "We’re not just creating gadgets – we’re building bridges between physical and digital experiences," he said, highlighting how the glasses could simplify transactions for everything from public transit to cross-border e-commerce.
The conversation turned to Rokid’s commitment to open-source AI development. "True progress requires collaboration," Zhu noted, outlining plans to share core technologies with global developers. This approach could accelerate solutions for rural education and healthcare access across Asia, particularly in regions with limited digital infrastructure.
For investors and tech analysts, the announcement signals China’s growing influence in consumer AR markets. Meanwhile, diaspora communities and digital nomads may find the glasses’ multilingual interface – supporting nine Asian languages – particularly compelling for cross-cultural connectivity.
