Latest news with #MariaDeLourdesZollo
WIRED
4 days ago
- Business
- WIRED
Gear News of the Week: Amazon Buys Bee, VSCO Has a New App, and CMF Debuts a Smartwatch
Plus: Google Photos lets you convert images to videos, Microsoft has a 5G Surface, and Palmer Luckey asks if you'd buy a US-made laptop. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Amazon has acquired Bee, a relatively new AI company that debuted an always-listening wearable earlier this year. Bee cofounder Maria de Lourdes Zollo shared the news via LinkedIn. We covered Bee AI at CES 2025—it was one of many new wearables that promised to listen to everything around you. It didn't save audio recordings, but it used the power of third-party and in-house large language models to transcribe words and create a journal of sorts, offering insights into your day, crafting takeaways, actionable tasks, and summaries of conversations. Despite being one of the first on the scene with its Alexa voice assistant, Amazon has been trailing behind the likes of OpenAI and Google's Gemini in the AI space, only recently debuting the upgraded version of Alexa+, powered by LLMs. The Bee acquisition would let Amazon offer its customers a different kind of AI experience from Alexa, one that is with you wherever you are and is always listening. That raises several privacy concerns, and Amazon has historically had a poor track record on that front. We'll have to wait and see whether Bee's current privacy policies will shift under the new ownership, and what will become of the little yellow wearable. CMF Debuts the $99 Watch 3 Pro Nothing's sub-brand CMF has a new smartwatch, following up on last year's Watch Pro 2. It's called the Watch 3 Pro, which is a subtle shift in the naming convention that makes it more similar to the CMF Phone 2 Pro that debuted a few months ago. The price is also now $99. Even with the $30 price bump, it's still one of the cheapest smartwatches around, though it runs RTOS (real-time operating system), meaning you won't be able to access your favorite apps here. That trade-off lets the Watch 3 Pro purportedly last 13 days on a single charge, a slight bump over its predecessor (the new watch lasts 4.5 days if you have the always-on display enabled). There's a new dual-band GPS for more accurate route tracking, 131 sport modes with a personalized running coach, and a new heart-rate sensor that CMF claims is more accurate across workout intensities and skin tones. Naturally, there's a dose of 'AI-powered' post-workout summaries. The CMF Watch 3 Pro can now track blood oxygen levels and stress, and it offers guided breathing exercises to help you relax. It even has period tracking. That's almost all the typical health features found on more full-featured smartwatches, save the electrocardiogram and fall detection. You'll be able to see basic notifications on the watch, and there's now a ChatGPT integration that lets you talk to the chatbot and set reminders, though your phone will need to be nearby for processing. It's available in dark gray, light gray, and orange, with a metal body and soft-touch silicone straps. CMF says all of its smartwatches are now transitioning to the Nothing X app, the same app used to configure Nothing's audio products. There's support for Apple Health, Strava, and Google Health Connect, so your data will show up in those respective platforms. It officially went on sale July 22, though some regions will have to wait until later this year. 5G Laptops Make an Unexpected Return Microsoft has announced a new Surface Laptop with an integrated 5G cellular modem, which will use Verizon's 5G network. Although it looks nearly identical to the current Surface Laptop 13.8 (7th Edition), it uses a new 'custom multi-layered laminate' material on the exterior rather than aluminum, which Microsoft says 'allows radio signals to pass through without impacting performance,' according to the company's blog post. Microsoft also boasts that it has completely redesigned the Surface Laptop to 'thoughtfully' and 'strategically' integrate the antenna inside to reduce interference. The new device is targeted toward business users, but it's an interesting reversal to the severe lack of cellular laptops recently. Microsoft has been offering a 5G option of the 2-in-1 Surface Pro for a while now, but never a Surface Laptop. When 5G was first rolling out in 2019, laptops with integrated 5G cellular connections were starting to roll out, such as the Lenovo Yoga 5G in 2020. But interest died out pretty fast. Perhaps Covid killed the momentum, since people were at home with their stable Wi-Fi connections. Or maybe it was because the Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered laptops at that time really couldn't compete with Intel. Interestingly, because it's an enterprise device, the Surface Laptop 5G is actually powered by an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 rather than Qualcomm's Snapdragon X. Microsoft may also be trying to preempt Apple's move into cellular MacBooks. It was reported late last year that Apple was exploring the idea, having acquired Intel's 5G modem business back in 2019. The Surface Laptop 5G will be available starting on August 26, with a starting price of $1,800 for an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage. — Luke Larsen Would You Buy a US-Made Laptop? That's the question posed by Palmer Luckey this week. The pro-Trump tech entrepreneur has already stamped his footprint in the worlds of virtual reality through Oculus and military tech through Anduril, but a more conventional computer would be new ground for Luckey. He raised the provocative question at the Reindustrialize 2025 Summit earlier this week. 'I actually think Anduril could build computers in the United States,' he stated. 'I've looked into it very, very deeply. I've had conversations with everyone you would need to do this. On the chip side, on the assembly side, on the manufacturing side. I know exactly how to do it, what it would cost, how long it would take.' Luckey goes on to say that the only thing holding him back is that he hopes someone else does it first. He later posted the following question on X: 'Would you buy a Made In America computer from Anduril for 20% more than Chinese-manufactured options from Apple?' At the time of writing, 64 percent of the over 77,000 responses said yes, while the rest said no. Whether or not there will be Anduril laptops in the future isn't so interesting as the larger question of how much it would cost to build technology from the ground up without relying on foreign production. The way his question is stated implies that he doesn't just mean laptops that are assembled in the US, but actually devices where every component is made in the US. If we trust Luckey in his price estimation, that would mean a MacBook Air–like device would cost an extra $200. That's less than what analysts have said in the past, including one approximation that stated iPhones would cost at least 25 percent more due to increased labor costs alone. Others have put that estimate much higher—as high as $3,500 for an iPhone, or stated that it's altogether impossible due to supply chain limitations. — Luke Larsen Google Lets You Convert Images to Videos Google Photos officially rolled out a feature this week that lets you convert static images to videos using generative artificial intelligence. We first saw this capability on an Honor smartphone, but it's now becoming more widely available. Google says the feature is powered by its Veo 2 generative AI model. All you need to do is select the image from your gallery and choose 'Subtle movements' or 'I'm feeling lucky,' and it'll get animated into a six-second clip (of something that never happened). That's not all that's new. The company is also adding a feature called Remix, which lets you convert existing photos into art styles, like anime, comics, and 3D animations (remember Prisma?). It'll be rolling out over the next few weeks. All of these effects and features might feel a little much, especially considering all the other tools at your disposal in the app, which is why Google also has a new Create tab. This is where you can go to convert photos to videos, use Remix, create collages, highlight videos, and more. The tab will be rolling out in August. Facer Is Back in Wear OS 6 Google's Wear OS 6 update started rolling out this week—it's the latest version of the smartwatch operating system, introducing a more colorful interface, widgets that are even more glanceable, alongside power efficiency improvements for better battery life. One of the oldest watch face apps, Facer—which has hundreds of themed watch face designs across various platforms—has announced an update adding compatibility with Wear OS 6. That's big news, considering that the app lost compatibility after Wear OS 5 rolled out in 2024. Facer didn't support Google's Watch Face Format (WFF) when Wear OS 5 launched, which was mandatory to access watch face complications. The company had to work with Google to bring back full functionality of its watch faces to Wear OS 6, and the it even says Facer will deliver 'significantly improved battery life' on all faces. The Facer update also adds new collaborations, like a SpongeBob SquarePants watch face, as well as a social component called 'Looks.' It's a tab in the app that lets you show off your favorite watch faces. Think of it as a new way to discover watch faces outside of the app's general explore page. If you like a look, you can find out what watch face they're using and download it, and if you like their watch strap, Facer will point you to its own strap store so you can nab it. VSCO Launches a New App Called Capture Photo filter and editing app VSCO—yes, the very same that popularized the 'VSCO girl'—has been around since 2012, but the company just launched a stand-alone mobile app after a decade. Capture is an iPhone-only camera app that has more than 50 'live presets' with real-time film effects and manual camera settings for better control over the final image. It essentially lets you preview the final look of your photo before you even hit the shutter button. These presets are non-destructive, so you can still edit the original captured image later on if you decide to change things up. It supports RAW and ProRAW formats, has real-time effects like bloom, and can instantly sync with the VSCO app for additional edits or sharing. It's free to download now, and there's no word if an Android app will be available in the future.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Amazon's sinister new gadget makes Alexa speakers look tame
Amazon is buying AI bracelet maker Bee in a major move to dominate the next wave of personal tech. The wristbands — which cost $50 — record everything you say, even when you're talking to yourself, and sync with your phone via Bluetooth. Powered by AI models from Anthropic, Google and Meta, Bee turns your day into a searchable database, creating personalized to-do lists and even tracking how many times you swear. Unlike Amazon's Alexa devices — which are meant to listen only after a 'wake word' — Bee's bracelets are always on unless switched off, giving them access to far more user data to train AI models. Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo said she was 'excited' to be joining Amazon and to bring 'truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers.' 'When we started Bee, we imagined a world where AI is truly personal, where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you,' she wrote on LinkedIn. The deal, still pending closure, comes as wearable AI gadgets flood the market. Meta is pushing its Ray-Ban AI glasses and Google has launched Gemini-powered earbuds. Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo said she was 'excited' to be joining Amazon Amazon's latest acquisition marks a shift forward from its Echo and Alexa products Because Bee is always listening, it can collect far more data per user — feeding the constant stream of information needed to train large language models. A spokesperson for Amazon told the Daily Mail that a deal had been signed with Bee but that the agreement is yet to close. Alongside the proliferation of new gadgets the rise of AI has already led to increased automation and consequent layoffs. Microsoft will eliminate thousand of positions this month as it makes deeper investments in the tech. Amazon and Ford's CEOs have also said they're planning on slashing staff to use more generative models. Once-dominant Intel also announced plans to cut around 2,400 jobs.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
This AI wristband will listen to everything you say
Amazon is in the process of acquiring Bee, a San Francisco-based startup that developed a wearable AI assistant bracelet. The Bee device, launched last year, provides users with personalised summaries of their day, reminders, and suggestions by analysing conversations. Maria de Lourdes Zollo, Bee's CEO, confirmed the acquisition, expressing that it would help bring their 'truly personal, agentic AI to even more customers'. Early reviews of the product have highlighted concerns about its ability to differentiate real-life conversations from online content, alongside potential data privacy issues due to its inbuilt microphones. While Bee states it processes audio in real-time and immediately deletes it without storing or selling data, it is uncertain whether Amazon will maintain these privacy policies given its past actions.
Entrepreneur
23-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Amazon Acquires Bee, Startup Behind Eavesdropping Wearable
Bee's core product is a $50 wristband that resembles a Fitbit and listens to everything you say. Amazon is making a push into AI devices with a new acquisition. Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch on Tuesday that it is planning to acquire San Francisco-based Bee, an AI wearable startup, but noted that the deal has not yet closed. Bee employees have received offers to join Amazon, an Amazon spokesperson told TechCrunch. The startup has between two to 10 employees listed on LinkedIn. Bee's core product is an AI bracelet that acts as a second memory, recording all of the conversations it hears to create summaries, reminders, and to-do lists for users. The $50 device, which resembles a Fitbit smartwatch, requires an additional $19 monthly subscription. Bee raised $7 million last year to develop the gadget, which can understand 40 languages and has a 7-day battery life. It is currently backordered due to high demand. Related: Samsung Is Looking into Making AI Necklaces, Earrings, and Other Wearables: 'All Kinds of Possibilities' Bee CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo wrote in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday that she "couldn't be more excited" about the acquisition. "What began as a dream with an incredible team and community now finds a new home at Amazon," Zollo wrote. The acquisition is a sign of Amazon's intent to create AI wearables, a different path from the company's Alexa-enabled Echo speakers and home assistant products. Amazon has tried to enter the wearable device market before, with limited success. In 2020, Amazon began selling a health-tracking bracelet called Halo, which tracked activity, sleep, and body fat. By 2023, Amazon shut down the Halo device as part of a broader cost-cutting measure. Other companies are also looking into AI wearables, including ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, which acquired the startup io for $6.5 billion in May to further its work on consumer devices embedded with AI. Samsung is also considering developing AI devices that users can wear, like AI necklaces and earrings, the company indicated earlier this month. Meanwhile, Apple and Google are working on smart glasses to compete with Meta, which released a new version of its bestselling smart glasses in collaboration with Oakley last month. Related: Amazon Is Ending an Important Privacy Feature for Alexa Echo Devices By the End of the Month Bee's wearable poses security, privacy, and legal concerns, given that it records everything around it. Eleven U.S. states, including Massachusetts, Florida, and California, require the consent of everyone involved in a conversation before the interaction can be recorded. Bee's current privacy policies state that the company does not save, store, or use audio recordings for AI training, but it does store what the AI learns about the user. The startup has stated that it only plans to record the voices of people who have consented verbally to the recording, per TechCrunch. Bee is also working on a feature to automatically stop recording audio based on boundaries like topic and location that the user defines, per the outlet. Amazon has previously come under scrutiny for the way it handles user data. In 2022, Amazon provided videos from Ring personal security cameras to law enforcement without a warrant or user consent. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Ring to pay $5.8 million in a settlement over claims that Ring employees could view footage from customer cameras for years.
Phone Arena
23-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Amazon just bought the $50 wearable that never stops listening
Big tech is all-in on AI, and Amazon is no exception. After revamping Alexa with AI smarts, Amazon's latest move is an acquisition – it's buying Bee, a startup behind a wearable that records everything the wearer says. The deal hasn't officially closed yet and the terms are under wraps, but Bee's entire team has been offered spots at Amazon. – Maria de Lourdes Zollo, Bee co-founder, July 2025 Bee's main product is the Bee Pioneer, a Fitbit-style bracelet priced at $49.99 with a $19/month subscription, plus an Apple Watch app. The idea is a personalized AI assistant that passively learns by listening to all your conversations and activities. You can mute it anytime, but otherwise, it captures everything you say or do, then summarizes your day, suggests tasks or recalls past details. Video credit – Bee Other startups like Rabbit and Humane AI tried similar AI-powered wearables but didn't catch on. Bee's affordable price makes it more accessible to anyone curious about AI without dropping a ton of cash. However, of course, a device recording nonstop raises privacy and security flags. Different companies handle data and voice recordings differently and Bee says users can delete their data anytime. The company claims audio isn't stored or used for AI training, though the AI does keep learned info to function as your assistant. Bee also promised to only record voices of people who consent verbally and is working on features to set boundaries – like pausing recording based on topics or location. It is also pushing for on-device AI processing, which is safer privacy-wise than cloud-based. But it's still unclear if these privacy policies will hold once Bee becomes part of Amazon, a company known for a mixed track record on user data privacy. The always-listening nature brings back memories of Amazon's privacy issues a few years ago, when employees were caught reviewing Alexa recordings – including accidental ones. And Amazon's had hits and misses with wearables. It still sells Echo Frames smart glasses but shut down its Halo health tracker in 2023. However, Bee's AI angle fits right into Amazon's push with Alexa+ generative AI. Still, while Amazon is betting big on AI wearables with Bee, whether it's a game-changer or privacy headache remains to be seen. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
