Amazon has unveiled two artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices designed to listen to users’ daily conversations, record information and provide reminders and personalised insights.
The devices, called Frontier and Eclipse, were introduced on Thursday under the Bee brand, a start-up Amazon acquired last year.
Frontier is a bracelet priced at 75 dollars, while Eclipse is a compact device resembling a portable magnetic charger that attaches to smartphones. Both devices collect information from calendars, applications and other data sources to generate reminders and insights throughout the day, Amazon said.
Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco, Amazon devices chief Panos Panay said the devices could help users remember conversations, pending tasks and commitments made to others.
“They listen to your whole day,” Panay said, adding that the devices could remind users of conversations, to-do lists and action points without requiring them to manually create reminders.
Amazon said users would control their privacy by deciding when to activate the devices. Users could also delete generated insights and previous conversations, while the company said it would not store audio recordings.
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However, the launch comes amid previous concerns over privacy and Amazon’s voice-assistant technology. In 2019, reports emerged that thousands of people had listened to recordings of conversations captured by its Alexa service. Amazon is also facing a class-action lawsuit over the practice, although it has denied wrongdoing.
Under the Bee service, data will be retained for 14 days, with users able to extend the retention period through a subscription costing 12 dollars per month. The devices can also connect to Alexa+, Amazon’s subscription-based generative AI voice service.
The new products will compete with other AI-powered wearable devices, including Meta’s Muse Charm pendant and camera-equipped smart glasses, as well as products developed by start-ups seeking to record conversations and perform tasks on users’ behalf.
The launch is part of Amazon’s broader effort to expand its range of devices and attract customers willing to pay more for improved quality and durability.
The company recently announced new tablets with prices reaching up to three times those of previous models.
