Amazon launches new AI devices that can listen and take notes
The products include a silicone wristband that can be clipped to clothing and a device that magnetically attaches to the back of a phone.
Key points
- Amazon launched the Bee Frontier wristband and Bee Eclipse phone attachment on Thursday.
- The devices listen to conversations, transcribe them and create summaries and reminders.
- A Bee Pro subscription costs $11.99 per month for advanced features.
Amazon introduced two new AI devices on Thursday that the company says can listen to conversations, compose notes and issue reminders. The first, the Bee Frontier, is a silicone wristband that can also be clipped to clothing and sells for $74.99. Amazon also announced the Bee Eclipse, a credit card-sized device that attaches magnetically to the back of a phone and costs $99.99.
The devices are made by Bee, an AI wearable maker Amazon acquired last year. Equipped with microphones, the Bee "personal AI" devices transcribe meetings or everyday conversations, helping users document moments hands-free, according to Amazon.
Features and integrations
Amazon said the devices can recommend "personalized goals and actions" based on conversations. In a release, the company said the Bee devices "take note of the details you might otherwise forget and turn them into useful conversation summaries, to-dos, reminders, and insights." For example, if someone plans a vacation on a phone call, the device will create a summary documenting flight times or hotel reservations.
Users can connect Bee to apps including Gmail, Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook, letting the AI draft follow-up emails or create calendar invites. The devices can also link to Amazon's Alexa+ and Amazon.com. Conversation summaries, recaps and 14 days of memory are free; advanced features such as Alexa+ integration and suggested to-dos require a Bee Pro subscription at $11.99 per month.
It takes note of the details you might otherwise forget and turns them into useful conversation summaries, to-dos, reminders, and insights.
— Amazon
Privacy protections
Amazon emphasized Bee's privacy protections, saying "no one, including Amazon, can access your data." The company said audio recordings are deleted after transcription and that no one can access user data unless the user shares it.
