Latest news with #Zollo
TECHx
6 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
Amazon to Acquire AI Wearables Startup Bee
Home » Startups » Amazon to Acquire AI Wearables Startup Bee Amazon has reached a deal to acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup that makes AI wearables. The company produces a $50 bracelet that records conversations and uses artificial intelligence to transcribe and summarize them. Bee's wristband can generate summaries, create to-do lists, and perform other tasks using the captured audio. The AI wearable can also be muted by users when desired. Amazon confirmed the acquisition on Tuesday after Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo shared the news in a LinkedIn post. However, the company did not disclose the deal's financial terms and said it has not yet closed. A spokesperson for Amazon stated the company will work with Bee to give users more control over the devices. Zollo wrote that the company envisioned 'a world where AI is truly personal,' powered by technology that adapts to users' lives. Bee was founded in 2022 and is known for its AI-powered wristband. Amazon previously launched its own wearable, Halo, which was discontinued in 2023. This acquisition adds to Amazon's ongoing efforts in the AI wearables space. The company already offers Echo smart glasses embedded with Alexa. According to Zollo's post, Bee will join the devices group led by Amazon executive Panos Panay once the deal is finalized. The move follows broader trends in the AI wearables market. OpenAI recently acquired io, a startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal. Other startups have also entered the AI wearable segment, though results have varied. Much of Amazon's AI development continues within its Amazon Web Services division. Source: Reuters
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon to acquire AI wristband developer Bee
Amazon is set to acquire Bee, a San Francisco-based startup specialising in AI-powered wristbands. Bee's wearable device, known as the Bee Pioneer, leverages AI to transcribe conversations and generate summaries, to-do lists, and other tasks. Confirmation of the deal was made following a LinkedIn post by Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. While Amazon acknowledged the acquisition, the details of the transaction remain undisclosed. The acquisition has not yet been finalised. An Amazon spokesperson informed Reuters that the company intends to work with Bee to improve user control over the wristbands, which automatically transcribe audio but also offer muting capabilities. Founded in 2022, Bee engineered its device to capture conversations and apply AI for personalised daily summaries, reminders, and suggestions available via its app. Users may authorise access to emails, contacts, location data, reminders, photos, and calendar events, creating a detailed history that informs AI-driven insights. In a LinkedIn post, Zollo wrote: '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. 'What began as a dream with an incredible team and community now finds a new home at Amazon.' The Bee Pioneer utilises dual microphones and advanced noise-filtering technology for clear transcription in various environments. The device claims to have a battery life exceeding 160 hours on a single charge and supports up to 40 languages. With a modular design, it can be detached from its wristband and attached securely to clothing using an included clip. However, while it is water-resistant, it is not suitable for swimming or showering. This acquisition marks Amazon's continued interest in wearables. Previously, the company offered a range of wrist health trackers under the Halo brand before discontinuing them in 2023. Amazon also sells smart glasses with integrated Alexa functionality under the Echo brand. "Amazon to acquire AI wristband developer Bee" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Amazon buys Bee, the AI company that makes wearables which listen to and summarize your day
Amazon has acquired the wearable startup Bee AI, best known for its $50 device that listens to and summarises your day. Bee co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo confirmed the acquisition in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday. Based in San Francisco, Bee gained the spotlight earlier this year at the CES tech show in Las Vegas when it announced a $50 wristband that closely resembles a Fitbit. The device received an overwhelmingly positive response from those who tried the wearable, which leverages artificial intelligence and features microphones that can listen to and analyse conversations to provide summaries, to-do lists, and reminders for everyday tasks. '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,' Zollo wrote. 'What began as a dream with an incredible team and community now finds a new home at Amazon.' Bee raised $7 million last year and currently offers a Fitbit-like bracelet (alongside a $19-per-month subscription) and an Apple Watch app. Amazon has also confirmed the acquisition and shared the details with several outlets; however, the terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Amazon is the latest big tech company looking to expand its footprint in artificial intelligence through apps, services, chips, and even devices. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant recently overhauled its Alexa voice assistant, originally launched more than a decade ago, with advanced AI capabilities, as the company is now in direct competition with OpenAI, Google, Apple, and Anthropic. Its home security brand, Ring, which sells security cameras and other hardware and services, has also added generative artificial intelligence capabilities. The motivation behind acquiring a small startup like Bee suggests that Amazon may have plans to launch an AI-powered wearable device in the future. Amazon's hardware division is led by Panos Panay, who was previously Microsoft's Chief Product Officer and was responsible for the development of Surface and Windows 11. However, it remains to be seen how Amazon will capitalise on Bee and its team. The biggest question is whether Bee will be folded into Amazon and shut down its operations, or if the startup will remain independent and continue selling its wearable device. Bee has faced scrutiny over its privacy policies, given that the wearable device records people's voices. The company, however, claims that users can delete their data at any time and that audio recordings are not saved, stored, or used for AI training. Amazon's track record with user privacy is already questionable. There is a rush to launch devices built on a foundation of artificial intelligence. So far, AI-infused consumer devices have received a mixed response. Over the past year, a flurry of AI-centered devices has made its debut, from the $200 Rabbit R1 to the Humane AI Pin. Both the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin were commercial flops, with Humane AI being sold to HP. However, one device that saw some success is Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which were first released in 2021. OpenAI, the makers of the popular ChatGPT AI bot, has expressed intentions to launch a screenless AI device. The Sam Altman-led startup acquired Jony Ive's AI devices startup, io, in May for $6.4 billion. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Amazon to buy startup focused on AI wearables
Amazon has reached a deal to buy San Francisco-based Bee, a startup making an artificial intelligence-enabled bracelet to listen in on and transcribe conversations. Bee's $50 wristband can analyze and distill what it records to make summaries, to-do lists or other tasks. Amazon confirmed the deal on Tuesday following a post on LinkedIn by Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. The deal has not yet closed and Amazon declined to provide terms. A spokesperson said Amazon will work with Bee to give users more control over the devices, which are set to automatically transcribe audio but can be muted. 'We imagined a world where AI is truly personal, where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you,' said Zollo in her post. She did not immediately respond to a query on Tuesday. It was not Amazon's first foray into wearables. The Seattle online retailer marketed a line of wrist health trackers called Halo but ultimately killed the project in 2023. It also has a line of smart glasses embedded with Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, under its Echo brand. ChatGPT parent OpenAI bought former Apple designer Jony Ive's AI device startup called io for about $6.5 billion. Other startups have made early attempts at AI wearables, with mixed results. In her post, Zollo thanked Amazon devices executive Panos Panay, suggesting Bee would join his group when the deal closes. Much of Amazon's AI development is being conducted in its Amazon Web Services unit. Bee was founded in 2022.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Amazon to buy startup focused on AI wearables
Amazon has reached a deal to buy San Francisco-based Bee, a startup making an artificial intelligence-enabled bracelet to listen in on and transcribe conversations. Bee's $50 wristband can analyse and distill what it records to make summaries, to-do lists or other tasks. Amazon confirmed the deal on Tuesday following a post on LinkedIn by Bee CEO and co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. The deal has not yet closed and Amazon declined to provide terms. A spokesperson said Amazon will work with Bee to give users more control over the devices, which are set to automatically transcribe audio but can be muted. "We imagined a world where AI is truly personal, where your life is understood and enhanced by technology that learns with you,' said Zollo in her post. She did not immediately respond to a query on Tuesday. It was not Amazon's first foray into wearables. The Seattle online retailer marketed a line of wrist health trackers called Halo but ultimately killed the project in 2023. It also has a line of smart glasses embedded with Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, under its Echo brand. ChatGPT parent OpenAI bought former Apple designer Jony Ive's AI device startup called io for about $6.5 billion. Other startups have made early attempts at AI wearables, with mixed results. In her post, Zollo thanked Amazon devices executive Panos Panay, suggesting Bee would join his group when the deal closes. Much of Amazon's AI development is being conducted in its Amazon Web Services unit. Bee was founded in 2022.
