In a global first, Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology provider, has added iris authentication features to Alipay+ GlassPay, its AR glasses-embedded payment solution, through partnerships with leading smart glasses producers.
Currently, Alipay+ GlassPay integrates multi-modal biometric verification measures including the AI-powered voice interface with intent recognition and voiceprint authentication technology. With the new feature successfully tested on AlipayHK, Alipay+ GlassPay now enables merchants and service providers to create an even smoother, more secure, and more immersive consumer experience via augmented reality. Using the latest innovations in AI and AR (augmented reality) technologies, leading smart glasses manufacturers Xiaomi and Meizu are Ant International’s inaugural partners to implement various payment functionalities on smart glasses globally.
Multi-modal secure authentication for AR consumer experience
Riding on rapid advances in AI, smart glasses are emerging as a new gateway for interactive commerce by bridging physical and digital consumer experiences. The device integrates instant try-ons, interactive shopping and simplified checkout wherever the customer is. By industry estimates, consumer adoption of smart glasses could grow almost sevenfold between 2024 and 2029 to 18.7 million units globally1.
Iris authentication has seen accelerated adoption around the world because of its clear security advantages over other biometric authentication methods. It is resistant to spoofing, thanks to a larger number of distinguishing feature points compared with facial or fingerprint analysis.
Alipay+ GlassPay’s iris authentication feature compares over 260 biometric feature points to verify and protect the identity of the user. It uses AI and advanced liveness detection technology to counter fraud attempts using photos, videos, or 3D masks. Using advanced imaging algorithms, the solution accurately verifies user identity in various lighting conditions, offering reliable, zero-contact security with a simple glance throughout the day.
The solution integrates an end-to-end security suite for e-wallets and apps, including a unique personal encryption key scheme to safeguard user data. In accordance with laws and regulations, device manufacturers, digital service providers and technology providers will work together to ensure compliance with security requirements in different markets.
The multi-modal security framework of Alipay+ GlassPay is powered by Ant’s gPass, the world’s first trusted connection technology framework for smart glasses, which enables glasses manufacturers and developers to build a secure AI digital services system, innovate new application scenarios for the device, and expand on its utility for consumers. As AI and AR use cases continue to expand, gPass is committed to providing global users with a safer and more convenient experience with smart devices.
New customer engagement and growth avenues for merchants
Building on AR-embedded payment, Alipay+ GlassPay will support merchants and digital platforms to develop a more enriched and efficient consumer experience. For example, smart glasses may help consumers to hail a ride and move seamlessly from a satisfactory offline try-on to an instant online purchase, saving merchant warehousing and logistics costs and improving omni-channel management.
Ant International will introduce the enhanced Alipay+ GlassPay solution to manufacturers, service providers and developers in the Asia Pacific.
Today, Alipay+ connects over 1.8 billion user accounts on 40 mobile payment providers to 100 million merchants across 100+ core markets. With one integration, mobile payment partners can access Alipay+’s expanding toolkits for customer engagement and business growth. Among these, Alipay+ now integrates QR-based and card payments via a global NFC solution. It also enables a full range of agentic AI features including MCP-based AI payments built on Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, an AI-as-a-Service platform for fintechs.
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