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Amazon Launches AI-Powered Wearable Devices Under the Bee Brand
By Drooid · · How we work
Amazon Unveils New AI Wearables
Amazon introduced two AI-enabled wearables branded as Bee: a $75 Frontier bracelet and a $100 Eclipse attachment for smartphones. Both devices continuously capture audio when activated, drawing on calendars, apps and other user data to generate real-time reminders and action items. Users can delete stored conversations, and Amazon says audio is not retained beyond a 14-day period, though a paid subscription extends storage for an additional $12 per month.
How the Bee Devices Operate
The wearables integrate with Alexa+, Amazon’s subscription-based generative-AI voice service. By listening throughout the day, the devices aim to eliminate the need for manual reminder setting. Amazon positions the products as part of a broader push for higher-priced, higher-durability hardware, complementing recent tablet releases that cost up to three times earlier models.
Official Statements from Amazon
The company emphasizes user control, noting that activation is optional and that data can be deleted at any time.
Privacy Concerns and Prior Scrutiny
Amazon’s history with voice assistants has drawn criticism. Reports from 2019 revealed that thousands of Alexa recordings were accessed by Amazon staff, leading to a class-action lawsuit that the company has denied. It remains unclear whether the Bee devices handle conversation data differently, and privacy advocates have highlighted the potential risks of always-on audio capture.