According to LinkedIn reports, Amazon has confirmed the acquisition of AI wearable startup Bee. The news was first disclosed by co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo, with Amazon verifying the deal to TechCrunch while noting the transaction remains pending completion.
Bee raised $7 million in funding last year, introducing a standalone fitness tracker (priced at $49.99 plus $19 monthly subscription) and an Apple Watch app. The device passively records ambient audio unless manually silenced, aiming to generate reminders and to-do lists through contextual conversations.
Zollo explained to TechCrunch that the company aimed to create a "cloud phone" - essentially a mobile device mirror - allowing Bee devices to access user accounts and notifications for proactive alerts and messaging.
"We envision environmental intelligence as a trusted companion rather than mere tools, helping users reflect, remember, and navigate freely," states Bee's official website.
Competitors like Rabbit and Humane AI have attempted similar AI wearables without significant market traction. Bee's $50 price point offers better accessibility for curious consumers avoiding major financial commitments (contrasting with Humane AI Pin's $499 price).
An Amazon spokesperson informed TechCrunch that Bee employees have received invitations to join the company.
This acquisition signals Amazon's interest in wearable AI technology distinct from its voice-controlled Echo smart speakers. OpenAI is developing proprietary AI hardware while Meta integrates AI into smart glasses, with Apple rumored to be working on AI-powered eyewear.
These devices pose privacy concerns due to constant environmental recording, with companies adopting varied policies regarding audio storage, handling, and AI training usage.
Bee's current privacy policy allows users to delete data at any time, with audio recordings neither stored nor used for AI training. The app retains learned user patterns to function as an assistant.
Bee previously stated plans to only record voices with explicit verbal consent. The company is also developing location/topic-based "boundaries" to auto-pause learning, emphasizing on-device AI processing which poses lower privacy risks than cloud-based solutions.
However, whether these policies will remain unchanged post-acquisition is uncertain, given Amazon's mixed track record on customer data privacy.
Past incidents include Amazon sharing Ring security camera footage with law enforcement without owner consent or warrants. Ring also settled 2023 FTC allegations regarding unrestricted employee access to customer video recordings.
