Amazon to Acquire Bee, Creator of Wearable AI That Listens

Amazon is acquiring Bee, a tech startup known for developing a wearable AI assistant capable of listening to and processing conversations in real time. This strategic move is expected to bolster Amazon's advancements in artificial intelligence and wearable technology. The acquisition highlights Amazon's intent to compete more aggressively in the AI-driven smart device space, potentially integrating Bee’s innovative technology into its existing ecosystem of products like Alexa and other voice-enabled services.

Amazon is acquiring Bee, a small startup based in San Francisco known for its $49.99 wearable wrist device that captures and transcribes spoken conversations. Maria de Lourdes Zollo, Bee's CEO and co-founder, shared news of the acquisition on LinkedIn. She noted that the move would allow them to bring more personalized, user-driven AI experiences to a broader audience.

She reflected on the company’s beginnings, stating that their vision was to create AI that truly understands individuals and evolves alongside them. What started as an ambitious idea with a dedicated team and community will now continue its journey within Amazon. Details regarding the terms of the acquisition have not been made public.

Bee is part of a growing group of companies building wearable tech that listens continuously, then converts those recordings into summaries and actionable insights. The device can also pull data from users' calendars, contacts, emails, and more. The company claims it doesn’t store audio and emphasizes its commitment to top-tier security practices. Bee is also in the process of testing AI models that can operate directly on the device, without relying on cloud processing.

An Amazon representative told GeekWire that the company designs products with privacy and security in mind, ensuring customers maintain control over how they use their devices. This philosophy, they confirmed, would extend to Bee’s products as well. Bee’s team members have reportedly been offered roles at Amazon as part of the acquisition.

It remains uncertain how Amazon plans to incorporate Bee’s technology into its current lineup of devices or overall AI roadmap. Meanwhile, other major players in tech like OpenAI and Meta are also working on personal AI assistants through both hardware and software initiatives.

Founded just last year, Bee secured $7 million in funding from investors including Exor, Greycroft, New Wave VC, and Banana Capital. The company was co-founded by Zollo and Ethan Sutin, who both previously worked at Twitter and Squad, a startup that was later acquired by Twitter.

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Source: geekwire‍