Amazon's New Technology Could Soon Record Everything You Say
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Amazon confirmed its acquisition of AI wearable startup Bee, a company known for devices designed to record virtually every word spoken by the wearer.
The deal, though not yet closed, gives Amazon access to new wearable AI technologies that have the capacity to constantly monitor their owners' audio.
Why It Matters
Amazon's acquisition of Bee brings the company deeper into AI-powered wearables, a rapidly expanding market segment, while recent policy changes illustrate the company's prioritization of generative AI features over older privacy protections. Historically, Amazon has faced scrutiny over its handling of voice recordings, including allowing employees to review Alexa interactions and settlements over inappropriate data access and storage.
The Amazon logo is displayed outside the Amazon UK Services Ltd Warehouse on January 30, 2025, in Warrington, United Kingdom.
The Amazon logo is displayed outside the Amazon UK Services Ltd Warehouse on January 30, 2025, in Warrington, United Kingdom.
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What To Know
Announcing the deal in a LinkedIn post, Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo said: "Bee is joining Amazon and we couldn't be more excited!
"When we started Bee, we imagined a world where AI is truly personal, where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you. What began as a dream with an incredible team and community now finds a new home at Amazon."
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek that the deal was signed but not yet closed, and that all Bee employees received offers to join Amazon. The terms of the deal are confidential and since the deal isn't closed, it's too early to talk about future plans.
"Bee is working on several new features to provide customers even greater control over their [Bee device] experiences," the spokesperson said, "and we're excited to partner with the Bee team to continue inventing in this space post-close.
Bee's signature product is a $49.99 bracelet, and a corresponding Apple Watch app, designed to record all ambient audio unless the user manually activates a mute function.
Users pay $19 per month for a subscription service that turns their recorded data into reminders or to-do lists and, as described on Bee's website, helps create "personal, ambient intelligence."
Bee says that users may delete their audio data and that, by default, audio is not retained for AI training. However, other information, including associated reminders and tasks, remains stored. The company plans to introduce features for limiting recordings based on content or location.
The purchase arrives as Amazon prepares to discontinue its "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" privacy feature on Alexa, meaning, after March 28, all Echo device requests will be routed through and temporarily stored in Amazon's cloud.
Users who do not wish their recordings to be retained must regularly delete them via the Alexa Privacy dashboard or app.
Who People Are Saying
A spokesperson for Amazon told Newsweek that the company "cares deeply about customer privacy and data security" and would continue to protect sensitive data, including the kind of health care data that Bee technology collects, which is protected by strict privacy laws and regulations appropriately across a variety of businesses.
What Happens Next
Amazon has indicated that Bee employees will be incorporated into its existing structure.
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