Smart rings, smart screens, smart TVs, smart pins, and even smart ice cube makers. Artificial intelligence was everywhere at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where companies large and small showed off how they are bringing AI to more devices. For Amazon, CES was a time to showcase its newest acquisition in the space: Bee, an AI device that can be worn as a clip-on pin or a bracelet.
Amazon already has an entry in the AI consumer devices space with Alexa, whose upgraded AI-powered version, Alexa Plus, can run on most of the hardware devices Amazon has shipped. However, with Bee, the company is gaining access to a wearable that could extend its reach outside the home.
Largely designed for recording conversations like interviews, meetings, or classes, Bee also works as an AI companion. The AI has access to world knowledge, and it learns more about you from a combination of your recordings and the services you permit it to access, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, your phone’s contacts, and Apple Health.
Given that Amazon has already tried integrating Alexa into wearables like earbuds and glasses, it could seem like the company is muddying the waters with the addition of another AI companion. However, those earlier Alexa devices have not taken off in the face of competition like Apple’s AirPods and Meta’s Ray Ban AI glasses. Amazon seems to understand this, which is why it is adding Bee to its lineup.
Bee co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo described Bee’s relationship with Alexa as complementary. She explained that Bee understands life outside the house, while Alexa understands the inside. She noted that there will be a future where these two things come together.
That future does not yet mean Bee’s AI will be replaced by Alexa. Amazon Alexa Vice President Daniel Rausch stated that Amazon thinks what the team at Bee created is an important and lovable experience. He described Bee as a deeply engaging and personal AI, but he also agreed that, at some point, Alexa and Bee would come together. He explained that combining these AI experiences will create even more benefit for customers by having continuous access to their power throughout the day.
De Lourdes Zollo said that Bee learns from its users, gaining an understanding of their patterns, insights, and commitments, which can help it suggest to-do items and follow-ups throughout your day. Early use cases have included students who record lectures, elderly people who have trouble remembering things, and people who speak for a living and do not want to always take notes manually.
She added that based on these recordings, Bee builds a detailed graph of knowledge about you, where you can chat with Bee and have an understanding of what happened to you and how you are changing during the course of your life.
Similar to Alexa, Bee uses a combination of AI models, but it is exploring adding Amazon’s own AI as one in the mix. After transcribing a conversation, Bee discards the audio, which makes it impractical for many work-related use cases where you need to play back the conversation to ensure accuracy.
There is still much ahead for Bee in 2026, de Lourdes Zollo teased. In addition to recent announcements of new features and functionality like voice notes, templates, and daily insights, the founder said the eight-person team is working on many new things out of their headquarters in San Francisco. She stated that the possibilities are now endless, and that is one of the reasons why the team is really excited to be part of Amazon.