Amazon Acquires Bee, an AI Wearable That Records Your Conversations

Amazon is acquiring the AI wearables startup Bee, jumping into the race to create a personal AI companion. The move, confirmed by Bee co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo in a LinkedIn post, positions Amazon in the emerging market for AI-powered hardware, a space where competitors like OpenAI and Meta are already making moves and where Apple is rumored to be exploring its own devices.

The deal, which Amazon confirmed has not yet closed, will bring Bee's team and technology under the e-commerce giant's roof. Bee is known for its Fitbit-like wearable bracelet and an Apple Watch app designed to record conversations and automatically generate reminders and to-do lists. The company's goal is to create an "ambient intelligence that feels less like a tool and more like a trusted companion," according to its website.




Bee's standalone device retails for $49.99 with a $19-per-month subscription, a significantly lower entry price than previous AI wearables like the ill-fated Humane AI Pin. It features dual microphones, a 7-day battery life, and a mute button. This acquisition signals Amazon's interest in developing a different class of AI device, moving beyond its Echo home assistants and into the personal, wearable space.

The move comes as other tech giants push into AI hardware. OpenAI recently acquired Jony Ive's AI startup, io, and is reportedly working on a device with no screen. Meta is already integrating AI into its Ray-Ban smart glasses, and Apple is said to be accelerating development of its own smart glasses for a potential 2026 launch.

Privacy is a key concern with always-on recording devices. Bee's current policies state that audio recordings are not saved or used for AI training, and that the company plans to build on-device AI processing. It remains unclear if these policies will change under Amazon's ownership, a company that has faced scrutiny over its handling of user data from its Ring security cameras.

In her post, Zollo expressed excitement about the new chapter. "When we started Bee, we imagined a world where AI is truly personal," she wrote. "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."