Amazon announced two new AI devices under its Bee brand earlier this week. The Bee Frontier, a next-generation wearable, costs $74.99 (approximately Rs. 21,000). The Bee Eclipse, a phone attachment, starts at $99.99 (approximately Rs. 28,000). In short, both devices record conversations and turn them into AI-powered summaries, to-dos, and insights.
The Bee Frontier works as a wristband or clothing clip with a soft silicone band. It also features dual microphones with noise filtering and carries an IP67 water resistance rating. In addition, the device lasts up to seven days on a single USB-C charge. It comes in Lavender, Sage, and Onyx and ships now through Amazon.
Meanwhile, the Bee Eclipse takes a different approach. It magnetically attaches to the back of a smartphone, measuring just 4.6mm thick and weighing 48.9 grams. Furthermore, it packs four MEMS microphones and a vibration microphone. As a result, it can capture both sides of phone calls alongside in-person conversations. In comparison, Amazon rates its battery life at over 21 days. However, the Eclipse does not have a confirmed launch date yet.
Both devices run on Bee Private Compute, an isolated processing environment for privacy. According to Amazon, the system processes audio in real time and then deletes it without storing it. In addition, the user’s device encrypts transcripts with keys it creates and controls. Therefore, Amazon says it cannot access user data unless they choose to share it. That does not have many Redditors convinced:
On the software side, both devices connect to a redesigned Bee mobile app and a new desktop app. The free tier includes conversation summaries and 14 days of memory. However, the Bee Pro subscription at $11.99 per month (approximately Rs. 3,360) or $99 per year unlocks more features. These include Gmail, Google Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook integrations along with Alexa+ support.
Notably, Alexa+ lets users access Bee summaries hands-free through Echo devices with Voice ID. Also, Bee Pro surfaces personalized Amazon shopping suggestions based on items users mention in conversations. New customers also get a 30-day free trial of Bee Pro with either device. Both devices come in below competitors like the Plaud Note ($159) and Pocket AI ($129).