Latest news with #Bee
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
Watch out Fitbit and Apple Watch, Amazon has entered the chat
You've seen them on wrists and fingers everywhere - at the gym, in the office, on the subway. Smartwatches and fitness trackers have become the quiet uniform of modern life. For many, they track steps. For others, they serve as sleep monitors, heart rate checkers, or reminders to stand every hour. But despite their popularity, most of these devices do the exact same thing. And frankly, they've started to Whether it's an Apple Watch, a Fitbit, or a Garmin, the core experience hasn't evolved much over the past few years. Related: Amazon's latest products go after a new type of customer Sure, there are better sensors and more polished apps. But the function is nearly identical: collecting health data and feeding it back to you in yet another dashboard you'll probably stop checking. What wearables haven't done, at least not well, is make your life easier in the moment. That may be why one small company decided to build something different. And now, a major tech giant just announced plans to acquire that company, marking a bold return to a space it once gave up on. That company is Amazon. And the startup it's buying is called Bee. Amazon confirmed this week that it will acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup behind a $49.99 AI-powered wristband. Bee's device is sleek and screenless, but packed with purpose. It uses onboard microphones and generative AI to listen to daily conversations - like work calls, casual chats, or even errands shouted across the room - and then distills that information into summaries, reminders, or to-do lists. Think: a wearable that doesn't just track your health, it helps you manage your life. In a LinkedIn post, Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo described the vision as "truly personal, agentic AI." Related: Apple Watch, Fitbit rival stuns with bold message "We imagined a world where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you," she wrote. Amazon spokesperson Alexandra Miller confirmed the acquisition but didn't share financial details. The move comes as Amazon expands its AI ambitions with projects like the shopping assistant Rufus and a revamped Alexa voice assistant. It also marks a second swing at wearables after Amazon discontinued its Halo fitness tracker in 2023. This time, though, the angle isn't frictionless productivity. Apple and Fitbit have long defined what wearables are supposed to do. Track your steps. Nudge you to stand. Alert you when your heart rate spikes. But those features haven't changed much in the past five years, and they haven't solved a bigger problem: information overload. Bee offers something different. Its core value isn't movement tracking or health metrics; it's saving time and promoting mental clarity. Instead of keeping you glued to your screen, it wants to take tasks off your mind. That kind of AI-assisted memory could appeal to students, professionals, parents, and anyone juggling a busy life. And because it's currently priced at just $49.99, it lowers the barrier to entry significantly. By comparison, the Apple Watch SE starts at $249. Fitbit's latest models range from $100 to $300. This isn't just another gadget - it's a rethink of what a wearable should be. With Amazon backing it, Bee now has the infrastructure to scale, and the resources to improve. If Apple, Google, WHOOP, and Meta weren't already watching, they are now. And with OpenAI, Humane, and others chasing similar hardware ambitions, the AI-on-your-body race is officially on. Related: Amazon's Alexa AI upgrade is even worse than expected The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
TECHx
4 hours ago
- Business
- TECHx
Amazon to Acquire AI Wearables Startup Bee
Home » Startups » Amazon to Acquire AI Wearables Startup Bee Amazon has reached a deal to acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup that makes AI wearables. The company produces a $50 bracelet that records conversations and uses artificial intelligence to transcribe and summarize them. Bee's wristband can generate summaries, create to-do lists, and perform other tasks using the captured audio. The AI wearable can also be muted by users when desired. Amazon confirmed the acquisition on Tuesday after Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo shared the news in a LinkedIn post. However, the company did not disclose the deal's financial terms and said it has not yet closed. A spokesperson for Amazon stated the company will work with Bee to give users more control over the devices. Zollo wrote that the company envisioned 'a world where AI is truly personal,' powered by technology that adapts to users' lives. Bee was founded in 2022 and is known for its AI-powered wristband. Amazon previously launched its own wearable, Halo, which was discontinued in 2023. This acquisition adds to Amazon's ongoing efforts in the AI wearables space. The company already offers Echo smart glasses embedded with Alexa. According to Zollo's post, Bee will join the devices group led by Amazon executive Panos Panay once the deal is finalized. The move follows broader trends in the AI wearables market. OpenAI recently acquired io, a startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. Other startups have also entered the AI wearable segment, though results have varied. Much of Amazon's AI development continues within its Amazon Web Services division. Source: Reuters
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
This AI wristband will listen to everything you say
Amazon is in the process of acquiring Bee, a San Francisco-based startup that developed a wearable AI assistant bracelet. The Bee device, launched last year, provides users with personalised summaries of their day, reminders, and suggestions by analysing conversations. Maria de Lourdes Zollo, Bee's CEO, confirmed the acquisition, expressing that it would help bring their 'truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers'. Early reviews of the product have highlighted concerns about its ability to differentiate real-life conversations from online content, alongside potential data privacy issues due to its inbuilt microphones. While Bee states it processes audio in real-time and immediately deletes it without storing or selling data, it is uncertain whether Amazon will maintain these privacy policies given its past actions.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Amazon to acquire AI startup Bee that offer wearables to record daily conversations
Image credit: LinkedIn Amazon is set to acquire a startup named Bee that specialises in AI on-wrist devices. In a post shared on social networking site LinkedIn, Bee's CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo confirmed this and said that this acquisition will 'bring truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers.' Currently, Bee offers a $49.99 Fitbit-like AI-based device to transcribe conversations. This allows the device to generate personalised summaries of daily activities, reminders, and suggestions within the Bee app. Users can also grant the device permission to access their emails, contacts, location, reminders, photos, and calendar events. This data helps inform the AI-generated insights and creates a searchable history of user activities. What Bee CEO said about Amazon's acquisition In her LinkedIn post, Zollo wrote: '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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo What began as a dream with an incredible team and community now finds a new home at Amazon. Ethan and I couldn't think of better partners to help us bring truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers. Thank you to everyone who believed in us: our users, investors, and the entire Bee team. You made this milestone possible. Huge gratitude to Panos Panay and Nick Komorous for championing our vision and guiding us through this journey.' How Bee's AI device works According to a report by The Verge, when tested, the device often misinterpreted background media such as TV shows, TikTok videos, music, and movies as real-life conversations. As per the report, Amazon was also asked about its plans to apply the same privacy measures offered by Bee, such as its policy against storing audio. Responding to this the Amazon's spokesperson, Alexandra Miller, said that the company 'cares deeply' about customer privacy and security. The company also confirmed that it will work with Bee to offer users 'even greater control over' their devices as the deal closes. 'We've been strong stewards of customer data since our founding, and have never been in the business of selling our customers' personal information to others. We design our products to protect our customers' privacy and security and to make it easy for them to be in control of their experience — and this approach would of course apply to Bee,' Miller noted. Miller also added that the terms of the deal are 'confidential,' and that all Bee employees have 'received offers to join Amazon.' Big Question Answered: Why Google is Merging Android and ChromeOS AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon to acquire AI wristband developer Bee
Amazon is set to acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup specialising in AI-powered wristbands. Bee's wearable device, known as the Bee Pioneer, leverages AI to transcribe conversations and generate summaries, to-do lists, and other tasks. Confirmation of the deal was made following a LinkedIn post by Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. While Amazon acknowledged the acquisition, the details of the transaction remain undisclosed. The acquisition has not yet been finalised. An Amazon spokesperson informed Reuters that the company intends to work with Bee to improve user control over the wristbands, which automatically transcribe audio but also offer muting capabilities. Founded in 2022, Bee engineered its device to capture conversations and apply AI for personalised daily summaries, reminders, and suggestions available via its app. Users may authorise access to emails, contacts, location data, reminders, photos, and calendar events, creating a detailed history that informs AI-driven insights. In a LinkedIn post, Zollo wrote: '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.' The Bee Pioneer utilises dual microphones and advanced noise-filtering technology for clear transcription in various environments. The device claims to have a battery life exceeding 160 hours on a single charge and supports up to 40 languages. With a modular design, it can be detached from its wristband and attached securely to clothing using an included clip. However, while it is water-resistant, it is not suitable for swimming or showering. This acquisition marks Amazon's continued interest in wearables. Previously, the company offered a range of wrist health trackers under the Halo brand before discontinuing them in 2023. Amazon also sells smart glasses with integrated Alexa functionality under the Echo brand. "Amazon to acquire AI wristband developer Bee" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
