Amazon has unveiled two new AI devices designed to enhance everyday life. The Bee Frontier is a flexible wristband that can also be attached to clothing, priced at $74.99. Additionally, the Bee Eclipse, resembling the size of a credit card, securely connects to the back of a smartphone and is available for $99.99.
These innovations are from Bee, an AI wearable creator that Amazon acquired last year. These gadgets feature microphones and transcribe conversations or meetings, documenting them hands-free. Based on the conversations, they propose “personalized goals and actions,” as per Amazon’s announcement.
Amazon’s new devices are capable of taking notes, creating reminders, and suggesting actionable tasks. The company states, “It captures details you might overlook and transforms them into practical summaries, to-dos, reminders, and insights.” For instance, during a call planning a vacation, the devices can summarize key information including flight schedules and hotel bookings.
These devices can integrate with apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook, enabling them to draft emails or set calendar events. They also connect with Amazon’s Alexa+ and Amazon.com, offering advanced functions to users subscribing to Bee Pro at $11.99 monthly. This subscription includes a range of features beyond the standard 14-day memory and free conversation summaries.
On the subject of privacy, Amazon asserts that “no one, including Amazon, can access your data.” Audio is deleted post-transcription and remains inaccessible unless shared by the user.
These Bee devices contribute to the expansive trillion-dollar AI gadgets market. Rivals such as Meta have launched similar products, including the Muse AI assistant in a keychain format. Other tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Samsung are also venturing into AI-powered consumer products.