Ant International is integrating iris authentication for the first time for GlassPay, the smart glasses payment solution for its payment platform Alipay.
This new technology will make payments more secure and the shopping experience more seamless, the Singapore-based financial technology company said on Thursday. It complements existing biometric verification procedures such as an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported voice interface in which the user’s intention is analyzed – intent recognition – and voice recognition technology.
Iris authentication, which was developed together with smart glasses manufacturers Xiaomi and Meizu, has already completed its first test phase in Hong Kong. Both companies are also among the first to implement this technology in their smart glasses.
Device manufacturers, digital service providers and technology partners are currently working to ensure compliance with security requirements in the respective markets. Ant International is initially introducing the service to manufacturers, service providers and developers in the Asia-Pacific region.
How does the Iris authentication feature work?
Alipay+ GlassPay’s iris authentication feature compares over 260 biometric features to verify users’ identities. Using AI and liveness detection technology, the system is designed to detect fraud attempts through photos, videos or 3D masks, while sophisticated image processing algorithms ensure that different lighting conditions do not limit identification.
Customers at retailers and online platforms that have integrated GlassPay into their system should experience a smoother, safer and more intensive customer experience with the help of augmented reality, according to the statement. An example of this would be the fitting in store, which then transitions into an online purchase, which is completed through the iris authentication of the glasses.
“The overall goal of smart glasses is to seamlessly integrate technology into our lives,” said Guo Peng, head of Xingji Meizu’s XR business unit. “The Iris payment solution is a crucial step in this journey. It makes paying a natural process again.
The interest in such solutions also seems to be becoming more and more popular among consumers. International Data Corporation recently predicted in a study that the popularity of smart glasses could increase dramatically in the next five years due to further advances in technology, greater consumer awareness and new market entrants. The US market research and consulting company, which is active in the field of information technology, expects an increase from 2.7 million devices (2024) to 18.7 million (2029).