Amazon Buys Bee AI Wearable That Records Your Conversations
▼ Summary
– Amazon has acquired AI wearables startup Bee, confirmed by Bee’s co-founder and Amazon, though the deal hasn’t closed yet.
– Bee produces a $49.99 wearable and an Apple Watch app that records conversations to create reminders and to-do lists, with a $19/month subscription.
– The company aims to develop a “cloud phone” concept, integrating user accounts and notifications for seamless AI-driven assistance.
– Bee’s privacy policies state that audio recordings aren’t stored or used for AI training, but user data is retained to enable assistant functionality.
– The acquisition reflects Amazon’s expansion into wearable AI devices, despite privacy concerns, given its mixed track record with user data handling.
Amazon has expanded its AI ambitions by acquiring Bee, a startup specializing in wearable technology that records conversations to assist users with reminders and task management. The deal, confirmed by Amazon though not yet finalized, marks a strategic move into AI-powered wearables, a departure from the company’s existing smart home devices.
Bee’s product lineup includes a $49.99 wristband with a monthly $19 subscription, along with an Apple Watch app. The device continuously captures audio unless manually muted, analyzing conversations to generate reminders and to-do lists. The company previously described its vision as creating a “cloud phone”, a digital extension of a user’s smartphone that integrates notifications and account access directly into the wearable.
Unlike competitors such as Humane AI and Rabbit, which struggled with high price points, Bee positioned itself as an affordable entry point for consumers curious about AI wearables. Humane’s AI Pin, for instance, launched at $499 before facing criticism and poor sales. Bee’s lower cost could make it more appealing to early adopters.
Amazon’s acquisition suggests growing interest in wearable AI assistants, joining rivals like OpenAI, Meta, and Apple, all of which are exploring similar hardware. However, these devices raise significant privacy concerns, given their always-on recording capabilities. Bee claims its current policies ensure user data isn’t stored or used for AI training, with options to delete recordings. The company also plans to introduce on-device processing to minimize cloud-based privacy risks.
Yet, questions remain about how Amazon will handle Bee’s data practices post-acquisition. The tech giant has faced scrutiny in the past over privacy issues, including unauthorized sharing of Ring camera footage with law enforcement and third-party contractors. If Bee’s policies shift under Amazon’s ownership, users may need to weigh convenience against potential data exposure.
As AI wearables gain traction, the balance between useful functionality and user privacy will likely remain a key challenge for manufacturers, and a critical consideration for consumers.
(Source: TechCrunch)
