Amazon acquired the AI wearables Startup Bee, according to LinkedIn Post by co -founder Maria de Loudres Zollo. Amazon confirmed the acquisition to Techcrunch, but noted that the deal had not yet closed.
Bee that raised $ 7 million Last yearMake both self-contained Fitbit-like bracelet (which sells for $ 49.99, plus $ 19-month subscription) and Apple Watch app. The product records everything it hears as the user manually mutates it-with the purpose of listening to conversations to create reminders and feasible lists for the user.
Bllo Said Techcrunch Last year, the company is looking forward to creating a “cloud phone”, or mirror of your phone, which gives the personal bee access to the user’s accounts and notifications, enabling receiving reminders of events or sending messages.
“We believe that everyone has to have access to a personal, ambient intelligence that feels less like a tool and more as a reliable companion. One who helps you reflect, remember and move around the world more freely,” Bee. claims on its website.
Other companies like Rabbit And Humane you have I have tried to make AI enabled portals like this, but so far have not found much success. But at a price of $ 50, Bee’s devices are more expensive to a curious consumer who does not want to make a great financial commitment. (The Sick -based Humani AI pin was $ 499.)
Amazon spokesman told Techcrunch that Bee employees were given bids to join Amazon.
This acquisition signals Amazon’s interest in developing Wearable AI devices, a different avenue from its voice-controlled home auxiliary products as its line of echo speakers. Chatgpt Maker Openai works on his own You have hardwareWhile Meta integrates his AI into his smart glasses. Apple is Reportedly Work on AI-powered smart glasses as well.
These products come with many security and privacy risks, considering that they record everything around them; The policies of different companies vary regarding how voice recordings are processed, maintained and used for AI training.
In its Current Privacy PoliciesBee says that users can delete their data at any time, and that sound recordings are not stored, saved or used for AI training. The app stores data that the AI learns about the user, however, how it can work as an assistant.
Bee before indicated That it planned to record only the voices of people who verbally agreed. Bee also says it is Working on A function to allow users to define limits – both based on topic and location – which will automatically pause the learning of the device. The company also noted that it plans to build on-device AI processing, which generally presents less privacy risk than processing data in the cloud.
It is unclear whether these policies will change, as Bee is integrated into Amazon, however – and Amazon has a mixed record of using using data from their customers’ devices.
In the past, Amazon shared video footage With lawbreakers of people’s personal ring security cameras, with neither the consent of the owner, nor an order. Ring also settled claims in 2023 brought by the Federal Business Commission that employees and entrepreneurs had wide and irregular access to customers’ videos.
