Latest news with #MariadeLourdesZollo
Canada News.Net
6 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Amazon buys startup behind wristband that transcribes conversations
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Amazon is making a fresh bet on artificial intelligence wearables by acquiring Bee, a San Francisco-based startup known for its AI-powered bracelet that records, transcribes, and summarizes conversations. The device, priced at US$50, can distill what it hears into to-do lists, summaries, and reminders. Its always-on microphone can be muted manually, offering users some control over privacy — a point Amazon emphasized in confirming the deal this week. While the acquisition has not yet closed, the e-commerce and cloud services giant said it plans to collaborate with Bee to enhance user transparency and control. Bee co-founder and CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo revealed the deal in a LinkedIn post, writing: "We imagined a world where AI is truly personal, where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you." She did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The startup was founded in 2022 and has been part of a growing wave of companies experimenting with on-the-go AI assistants. Amazon declined to disclose financial terms of the acquisition. This move follows Amazon's earlier, less successful attempt at entering the wearables market with its Halo wristband, a health tracker that was discontinued in 2023. It also produces Echo Frames, smart glasses embedded with its voice assistant Alexa. AI wearables have become an increasingly competitive space. Earlier this year, OpenAI acquired io, a hardware startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a deal reportedly valued at $6.5 billion. Other startups in the field have delivered mixed results, with many still navigating technical, privacy, and market adoption hurdles. In her announcement, Zollo thanked Amazon Devices chief Panos Panay, hinting that Bee will be integrated into his team after the deal's completion. Panay joined Amazon in 2023 and has been leading a revamp of the company's hardware division to focus more aggressively on AI.
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- 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
23-07-2025
- 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
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- 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
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Amazon's New Technology Could Soon Record Everything You Say
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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. Getty Images 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.
