Hong Kong entrepreneur John Fan wants to revolutionize smart AI glasses

You may know entrepreneur John Fan Chin-Chiang, especially if you’ve been following developments in mini-displays for the US military. Now he’s turning his attention to smart glasses, aiming to compete with Meta Platforms and Ray-Ban. His company, Solos Technology, is based in Hong Kong and is creating the Solos AirGo V, a new AI-integrated smart glasses product.

A fashionable and lightweight alternative

The Solos AirGo V may remind you of the frames Ray-Ban developed in collaboration with Facebook’s parent company, Meta. But John Fan believes his glasses have a key advantage. Based in Hong Kong, known for its expertise in eyewear design and manufacturing, Fan insists that the glasses must first be exceptional as glasses before any “smart” features are incorporated.

His new smart glasses weigh just 30 grams, significantly lighter than the 49 grams of Ray-Ban’s models. What’s more, the Solos app offers a variety of AI models from different companies, including OpenAI’s latest GPT-4 models, Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude. These features, he argues, make his product both fashionable and highly functional.

During an unveiling event in Hong Kong on June 28, a company representative revealed that users would get a three-month free trial before having to pay a subscription fee for the AI ​​services. While no specific release date was announced, Solos is targeting a December launch.

Building on a legacy of innovation

It’s worth noting that these smartglasses don’t yet feature a microdisplay in the lens, unlike products from companies like Brilliant Labs and TCL’s RayNeo. Fan’s background in display technology, from his time at MIT and work with the US Department of Defense, makes this omission intriguing. Still, he assures that the feature is in development, with the current focus on audio capabilities.

Fan’s first company, Kopin, received significant funding from the U.S. government, including a US$50 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1990. This funding helped develop microdisplays used in military applications. Over the years, Kopin has received several grants of more than US$10 million, primarily from the Department of Defense.

Despite these achievements, Kopin has remained relatively unknown outside of specialized military and enterprise markets. Fan seems determined to change that with Solos. At the unveiling of the AirGo V, he invited Victor Fung Kwok-king, chairman of Li & Fung Group, to speak. Fung praised Fan’s innovative career and emphasized the potential impact Solos could have on Hong Kong’s business landscape.

A return to roots with a vision for the future

Fan spun out Solos in 2019 and another company, Lightning Silicon, in 2023, with headquarters in Hong Kong and Santa Clara, California, respectively. He stepped down from Kopin’s board in May 2023 to focus on these new ventures.

For Fan, basing solos in Hong Kong is more than a business decision; it’s a homecoming. Born in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation, his family moved to Hong Kong in 1949. He later moved to the US in 1961 to study, but his connection to Hong Kong remained strong.

Fan also highlights the support of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, which provides a stimulating environment for innovation. This support, combined with lower costs and available subsidies, makes Hong Kong an attractive location for his company.

While the future of Solos’ listing remains uncertain, with possibilities ranging from Hong Kong to the US, Fan is focused on the present. His goal is to create a new AI interface that seamlessly integrates into everyday life.

In a world where smartwatches and other wearables are becoming increasingly common, Fan believes that smart glasses are the next big thing. They serve a practical function as well as a fashion statement, combining technology with style.

“We are not robots; people want to look good,” Fan emphasizes. “That’s why I came to Hong Kong.”