Emir BardakçıIf you considered smart glasses to be just for recording POV videos or listening to songs, then Xiaomi is set to change that for you. The tech giant has just started a massive recruitment process for its new Xiaomi AI Glasses firmware beta, which will take the wearable from a cool gadget to a life-saving assistant. This is far more than a simple bug patch. This new internal testing phase, which will invite 200 of the most dedicated Mi Fans, will feature a much deeper integration of Ant Financial services as well as a complete revamp of the device’s functionality in regards to voice summaries.
With the review phase expected to be complete by January 21st, 2026, we are looking at a very fast launch that could change the game as far as wearable AI is concerned.
TL;DR: The Key Upgrades
- AI Health Coach: Deep integration with Ant Financial’s Afu Health Manager turns the glasses into an on-demand health consultant.
- Smarter Summaries: You can now snap photos while recording audio, with the AI generating a combined text-and-image summary instantly.
- Voice Scheduling: New hands-free schedule reminders that Xiao Ai announces automatically when due.
- Availability: Currently in beta recruitment; requires the companion app to be updated to version 2.6.0.
Your New AI Health Companion
The most prominent feature of this update is the inclusion of Ant Financial’s Afu Health Manager. While most wearables concentrate on passive monitoring (e.g. step or heart rate), Xiaomi is trying to make their glasses proactive. With the help of Ant Fortune, the glasses could potentially serve as an “AI doctor friend.” Though a certain diagnosis may demand FDA approval in the West, the probable use of the glasses involves the AI analyzing the visual context (nutrition labels, food bowls, medication boxes) to offer medical guidance via the Afu assistant.
Note: This deep level of service integration is currently optimized for the Chinese market (Ant Financial/Alipay), but it shows the direction that Xiaomi HyperOS is taking towards integrating third-party services into the visual interface of the glasses.
The Moment in Photography
One of the most annoying aspects of current smart glasses is the distinction between “Recording audio” and “Taking photos.” Before, you had to choose between the two options. With the version 2.6.0 update, Xiaomi has completely transformed the recording summary feature. This means you can now take high-resolution photos during the audio recording process. And the best part?
The AI not only saves these images; it creates a single-click summary of the audio transcript and images. Students and professionals will find it a game-changer. Just imagine that you record a lecture or a meeting and take pictures of the whiteboard. The AI will provide a summarized note that captures both the spoken words and the images on the slides.
Designed Specifically for “Xiao Ai” & Daily Use
This upgrade also refines the interaction with the voice assistant from Xiaomi, Xiao Ai. The promised improvement in the beta log for the “Image Q&A performance” means that the glasses will be quicker and more accurate if you look at something and then ask it “What is this?” or “How much is this on Amazon?”
In addition, reminders for schedule entries created by voice are now supported. Rather than just setting an alarm, Xiao Ai will remind you by voice when it is due, even if your phone is in your pocket.
International Availability & Pricing Context
It is worth noting that the Xiaomi AI Glasses are at the moment exclusive in China. The device was first released in June 2025 at a price of 1,999 CNY (approx. $275 USD). Reminder of Key Specs:
- Weight: Ultra-light 40g body
- Camera: 12MP first-person camera sensor capable of video.
- Audio: Stereo open-back headphones with a 5-mic system for quality calling.
- Design: Three frame choices that can hold prescription lenses.
Although the Global audience is still waiting, Xiaomi tends to rebrand its successful China-exclusive lifestyle products for the Global market under the Xiaomi Smart or POCO brand name towards the latter part of its life cycle. With the rising interest in AI hardware, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Global version of these glasses makes its entry in 2026.
What We Think
Not only does this update demonstrate that Xiaomi considers the AI Glasses to be a software platform rather than a hardware component, but it’s also extending the life of the product considerably by adding a whole set of new features through these software upgrades.
