Chinese AI glasses and Rokid's OpenClaw push to challenge Meta's dominance in smart glasses

Rokid has officially launched its line of AI glasses in Japan and Europe, pairing the devices with OpenClaw, an autonomous AI assistant platform designed to let users control “claws” through voice commands. The company says the glasses environment is well-suited for AI assistants and that assistant software is expected to become a key revenue driver for wearable devices.

From voice control to autonomous assistants

Rokid’s global head of product, technology and ecosystem, Weiqi Zhao, said smart glasses provide an “ideal environment” for AI assistants, while the assistants themselves help drive demand for the glasses. He added that speaking directly to the glasses could make it more convenient to request help than pulling out a phone or laptop to type instructions.

Zhao also emphasized that smartphones and computers will still be needed to operate the assistants, because glasses alone cannot deliver optimal support due to chip and other hardware limitations.

AI glasses growth and market concentration

Market research firm Omdia estimates that global shipments of AI glasses reached 8.7 million units in 2025, up 322% from the previous year. Omdia forecasts shipments will exceed 15 million units in 2026, citing strong interest in the emerging AI device category.

Omdia data also shows that Meta maintained global leadership last year, accounting for 85.2% of total AI glasses shipments—equivalent to 7.4 million units. Rokid said it aims to challenge this dominance by integrating OpenClaw AI assistants into its platform, while Zhao noted that the effort could also benefit other smart glasses makers, including Meta.

OpenClaw platform and developer push

OpenClaw is described as an open-source AI assistant platform that helps users create various “claws” capable of handling complex tasks with little or no human intervention. Examples cited include negotiating prices via email and improving software code.

The platform has gained attention internationally, with tech companies including Nvidia praising it as a “ChatGPT moment” for assistant-style AI. The excitement has contributed to broader adoption of assistant tools, particularly in China, where the trend is nicknamed “lobster fever.”

Rokid said it is partnering with the OpenClaw developer community to build an AI assistant ecosystem tailored for smart glasses. The company has released a developer toolkit for more than 30,000 developers to create AI assistants that run on smart glasses.

Security, privacy, and “Claw Assistant”

While Rokid said OpenClaw reduces technical barriers to automating work with AI, it also requires users to understand how to install and deploy assistants. The company also warned that assistants operating without protective safeguards can create security and privacy risks.

To help manage assistants on-device, Rokid has deployed a central assistant on its AI glasses called “Claw Assistant,” intended to help users operate other assistants they create using OpenClaw.

Making adoption easier and setting expectations

Zhao said some users want to join “lobster fever” even if they do not know how to install OpenClaw or create assistants. Rokid is working to make downloading and using OpenClaw “as easy as a click.”

He added that the capabilities of assistants created for smart glasses may be more limited than versions built on a computer with OpenClaw. For Rokid’s commercial glasses product, Zhao said safety and stability must come first.