Smart glasses for police officers

China has begun the large-scale deployment of smart glasses with artificial intelligence for police officers, and this is no longer an experiment but a working tool used in everyday service. These are wearable augmented reality devices that effectively turn a police officer into a mobile analytical center.

How it works in practice. The glasses are equipped with a camera, a processor and a constant connection to government databases. A single glance at a person or a vehicle is enough – within 1-2 seconds the system analyzes the image, recognizes a face or license plate and displays information on the internal screen about identity, registration, wanted status, fines, criminal records and other possible violations. Everything happens in real time, without radios, tablets or manual requests.

The key feature is that checks are carried out literally on the move. Officers do not need to stop crowds, submit requests or wait for responses from a central unit. The glasses automatically match visual data with national registries and immediately deliver results, reducing the workload on officers and speeding up decision-making in street conditions.

The devices also function as video recorders. Everything the officer sees can be recorded and stored as evidence – from routine checks to conflict situations. This simultaneously strengthens control over citizens’ actions and increases the formal transparency of law enforcement activities.

An additional module is a built-in translator. The glasses are capable of recognizing and translating speech in real time from more than ten languages. This is especially relevant for tourist areas, international transport hubs and large megacities, where language barriers often hinder quick checks and communication.

From a technical perspective, the system combines computer vision, biometric identification and cloud computing. The algorithms are trained on massive datasets, allowing them to operate even in difficult conditions – poor lighting, partially covered faces or unconventional angles.

Chinese authorities view these glasses as a tool to increase efficiency and prevent offenses. The faster the identification, the higher the chance of stopping an incident at an early stage. The technology is primarily being deployed in major cities, at railway stations, airports and other crowded locations.

At the same time, technological progress brings an obvious debate about privacy. The mass use of AI glasses effectively means continuous biometric identification in public spaces. In China’s governance model, this is considered an acceptable price for safety and order, but in other countries such technologies already provoke serious controversy and resistance from human rights advocates. In essence,

China is showing what the police of the future look like when integrated with state AI systems. Not a patrol with a radio, but a person with a neural network on their eyes. And if such scenarios once looked like science fiction, they are now simply part of standard service equipment.

A video test of this gadget can be viewed on our Telegram channel.