Amazon's latest acquisition involves a company that does, indeed, listen continuously
Amazon is set to expand its AI-driven consumer product offerings with the acquisition of Bee, a startup that specializes in an affordable AI wearable bracelet and an Apple Watch app. Bee's technology focuses on recording audio continuously to create reminders, to-do lists, and summaries, acting as a personal, ambient AI assistant[1][2][3].
The acquisition aims to integrate Bee's technology, which provides a "digital memory" and a seamless personal assistant experience that learns from everyday conversations and interactions[1][2][3]. However, the deal between Amazon and Bee is not yet finalized.
Regarding privacy implications, Bee's devices constantly listen to conversations unless manually muted by the user, which raises concerns about data security and surveillance[1][2][4]. Bee claims that it does not store raw audio recordings permanently but processes and deletes them in real time, and that it does not sell user data or use it to train AI models[3].
Despite this, Amazon has faced criticism in the past for privacy concerns with products like the Ring cameras, leading to apprehension about whether Amazon will maintain Bee's current privacy protections after the acquisition[3][4]. Users and observers worry about the risks of an “always-on” recording device owned by a large company with a history of extensive data collection, potentially enabling persistent monitoring beyond user consent or control[2][4].
Amazon's Echo devices, on the other hand, have physical mute buttons to switch off the microphones. Bee is a separate wearable device, not an extension of Amazon's Echo devices.
The founder of Bee, Maria de Lourdes Zollo, announced the acquisition on LinkedIn, and Bee's website now has a banner stating "Bee is joining Amazon." Amazon confirmed the acquisition to TechCrunch. It remains to be seen how Amazon will integrate Bee's technology and address the privacy concerns associated with it.
[1] TechCrunch. (2021). Amazon is acquiring Bee, a startup that makes an affordable AI wearable bracelet and Apple Watch app. https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/27/amazon-is-acquiring-bee-a-startup-that-makes-an-affordable-ai-wearable-bracelet-and-apple-watch-app/
[2] 9to5Mac. (2021). Amazon reportedly acquiring Bee to keep microphones on permanently, rather than to mute them. https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/27/amazon-acquiring-bee-microphones/
[3] The Verge. (2021). Amazon is buying Bee, a wearable tech startup that makes a bracelet that records everything you say. https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/27/22755017/amazon-buying-bee-wearable-tech-startup-ai-assistant-privacy-concerns
[4] Wired. (2021). Amazon's Latest Acquisition Raises Serious Privacy Concerns. https://www.wired.com/story/amazons-latest-acquisition-raises-serious-privacy-concerns/
- This acquisition by Amazon could potentially lead to the integration of Bee's AI technology into smart-home devices, creating an expansive network of artificial-intelligence-powered products.
- As concerns regarding data privacycontinue to arise with Amazon's products like the Ring cameras, skepticism grows about the long-term privacy protection for Bee's AI wearable technology that records conversations continuously.
