Amazon acquires Bee, expanding into AI wearable market

Amazon has confirmed its agreement to acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup that specialises in artificial intelligence-powered wearable devices. With this deal, Amazon plans to re-enter the wearable technology sector and highlights its intentions to develop personalised AI experiences. While the financial terms of the deal remain confidential and the transaction is yet to close, the acquisition is set to integrate Bee’s team and technology into Amazon’s devices division.

Bee once gained attention for its discreet, USD 49.99 wrist-worn device, designed to record and trsncribe conversations. This wearable acts as a “ second memory” generating summaries, reminders, and to-do lists for users. Beyong the one-time purchase, Bee also used to offer a USD 19 monthly subscription for enhanced features to its customers. These devices leverage AI to process spoken interactions, support 40 languages, and boast a seven-day battery life, fitting into the emerging trend of ambient computing.

This acquisition depicts Amazon’s renewed focus on wearable technology, following the discontinuation of its Halo fitness band in 2023. The company has steadily increased its investment in artificial intelligence, from the overhaul of its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI capabilities (Alexa +) to the development of proprietary Nova language models and Trainium chips. And, amidst all this, integrating Bee’s AI into Amazon’s ecosystem is expected to enhance its offerings in personalised, voice-enabled technology.

The AI wearable market is experiencing rapid development, with companies like OpenAI and Meta also venturing into personal AI assistant hardware. Amazon’s acquisition of Bee positions it to compete in this growing space, aiming to deliver integrated AI solutions that blend seamlessly into daily life.