Amazon Acquires Bee AI to Supercharge Alexa with Wearable Voice Assistant Tech
Amazon is set to acquire Bee AI, a San Francisco-based startup known for its AI-powered wearable device, marking another strategic move by the tech giant to deepen its investments in generative artificial intelligence.
Bee AI’s flagship product is a $49.99 wristband that resembles a smartwatch and comes equipped with built-in microphones and AI capabilities. The device can listen to conversations, generate summaries, create reminders, and manage to-do lists—essentially acting as a smart assistant on your wrist.
In a LinkedIn post, Bee AI CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo shared the news, expressing excitement about joining Amazon. “We started Bee with a vision of personal AI that evolves with your life. That dream is now continuing at Amazon with new possibilities,” she wrote.
Amazon confirmed the acquisition through spokesperson Alexandra Miller but did not reveal financial details of the deal.
The move aligns with Amazon’s broader AI push, which includes launching its Nova AI models, Trainium chips, AI shopping assistant, and Bedrock platform for third-party AI services. The company has also revamped Alexa with generative AI to stay competitive with rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
Previously, Amazon explored the wearables space with its health-focused Halo band, which was discontinued in 2023 as part of cost-cutting efforts. Now, Bee AI gives Amazon another shot at wearable innovation—this time powered by conversational intelligence.
Other major tech players are also testing the waters of AI wearables with varying levels of success. Examples include the Rabbit R1, Humane’s AI Pin (later acquired by HP), and Meta’s increasingly popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. OpenAI recently made headlines by acquiring Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup, io, for a reported $6.4 billion.
Bee’s integration could help Amazon merge voice-first interfaces with AI personalization in everyday life redefining how consumers interact with technology on the go.
