Amazon acquires Bee’s $49.99 AI wearable for conversation tracking

Amazon is acquiring Bee, a startup that makes a $49.99 AI-powered wearable device that continuously listens to and transcribes conversations to generate daily summaries and insights. The acquisition signals Amazon’s push into personal AI wearables, though the device has faced accuracy challenges in distinguishing real conversations from background media.

What you should know: Bee’s wearable functions like a Fitbit but focuses on audio processing rather than fitness tracking.

• The device transcribes conversations between users and people around them, creating personalized daily summaries, reminders, and suggestions through the Bee app.
• Users can grant the device access to emails, contacts, location data, reminders, photos, and calendar events to enhance its AI-generated insights.
• The wearable creates a searchable history of activities and conversations for users to reference later.

Performance concerns: Initial testing revealed significant accuracy issues with the device’s audio processing capabilities.

• Victoria Song from The Verge found that Bee often confused real-life conversations with background audio from TV shows, TikTok videos, music, and movies.
• These accuracy problems could limit the device’s practical utility for generating reliable daily summaries and insights.

Privacy and integration plans: Amazon emphasizes its commitment to maintaining Bee’s privacy standards while integrating the technology.

• Amazon spokesperson Alexandra Miller stated the company “cares deeply” about customer privacy and security, noting Amazon has “never been in the business of selling our customers’ personal information to others.”
• The acquisition will preserve Bee’s policy against storing audio recordings, according to Amazon’s privacy approach.
• All Bee employees have received offers to join Amazon as part of the deal.

What they’re saying: Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo explained the strategic rationale behind joining Amazon.

• “The company is joining Amazon to help bring truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers,” Zollo said on LinkedIn.

Deal status: The acquisition terms remain confidential and the transaction has not yet closed, according to Amazon spokesperson Alexandra Miller.