TLDRs:
- JD Tech and Rokid launch JoyGlance, enabling visual product search through smart glasses.
- Users can complete purchases hands-free using voice commands and voiceprint authentication.
- Launch set for November 2025; payment features arrive in January 2026.
- JoyGlance aims to make smart glasses a practical tool for mainstream shopping.
JD Technology, in partnership with augmented reality specialist Rokid, has unveiled JoyGlance, a cutting-edge shopping assistant for smart glasses.
The tool allows users to locate products simply by looking at them and then use voice commands to add items to their online cart. By combining computer vision with voice recognition, JoyGlance promises a hands-free, seamless shopping experience.
Set to launch on Rokid’s smart glasses in November 2025, JoyGlance will initially focus on product discovery, with payment capabilities planned for January 2026. The companies claim that the voiceprint authentication system powering payments provides higher security than traditional passwords or fingerprints, offering shoppers both convenience and peace of mind.
From Visual Search to Instant Purchase
With JoyGlance, the glasses’ camera scans a product in the real world and matches it against JD’s extensive online catalog.
Once similar items are identified, users can complete purchases using voice commands, making the checkout process entirely hands-free. This approach addresses a long-standing challenge in smart glasses adoption, practical functionality beyond basic notifications or cameras.
Earlier attempts at multifunctional smart glasses often fell short, failing to surpass smartphones in convenience or utility. By zeroing in on the visual search-to-purchase pathway, JD Tech and Rokid hope to redefine what these devices can achieve in everyday shopping.
Smart Glasses Could Go Mainstream
The timing of JoyGlance’s launch is strategic. Smart glasses sold through JD and Alibaba’s Tmall previously suffered from high return rates, approximately 30% on JD and up to 50% on Douyin, China’s TikTok-like platform, due to limited practical use.
By directly connecting physical product viewing to online purchasing, JoyGlance addresses a critical gap in the shopping experience, potentially making glasses more convenient than smartphones for some purchases.
China’s mobile-first e-commerce ecosystem, with over 50% of retail sales conducted via mobile devices, provides a natural testbed. With nearly 975 million active online shoppers, the market is primed for experimentation with new purchasing technologies.
Early Movers Gain Market Advantage
Industry analysts note that global smart glasses shipments could exceed 40 million units by 2029, reflecting a 55.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
JD’s early positioning on Rokid devices gives it a competitive advantage, enabling it to shape the camera-commerce experience before rivals like Taobao, Amazon, or future AR offerings from Meta and Apple.
Successful deployment of JoyGlance requires high-quality product images and detailed visual metadata to ensure accurate matching in real time. By investing early, JD Tech aims to build the infrastructure and user habits necessary to dominate smart-glasses commerce as the technology matures.
Looking Ahead
JoyGlance represents a significant step toward mainstreaming smart glasses as a practical shopping tool. Beyond consumer convenience, it signals the growing integration of AI and AR in everyday commerce.
As JD Tech and Rokid roll out the technology, other e-commerce giants will likely explore similar features to capture early adopters, potentially transforming how millions of people browse and buy products in both physical and digital spaces.
