Amazon's AI Wearable Bee: First Look at New Hands-On Experience

During initial tests with a Bee review unit, we found the device itself straightforward to operate. Turning recording on or off requires just a single button press. Within the companion app, you can configure a double-press to either bookmark a conversation segment, process the current audio, or do both. You can also set a press-and-hold gesture to leave a voice note or converse with the AI assistant. (The Bee app currently prompts you to enable voice notes, which we did.)

Similar to many other AI offerings such as Plaud, Granola, Fathom, Fireflies, and Otter, Bee can listen to, record, and transcribe audio conversations. Its key differentiator is that instead of presenting just an overview or a raw transcript, it intelligently segments the audio and provides a summary for each part. For example, an interview might be broken down into sections covering the introduction, detailed product specifications, industry trends, and other discussed topics.

Each section is highlighted with a distinct background color for easy visual distinction while scrolling. Tapping on any section reveals the full, exact transcription.

Initially, it wasn't clear how to label different speakers in the app. We discovered you could tap on a conversation segment to confirm if you were the speaker, but this functionality is more limited compared to professional AI transcription services that allow labeling each participant. Additionally, Bee deletes the audio file after transcribing it, which makes it unsuitable for situations where you need to replay the original recording to verify accuracy.

However, Bee isn't necessarily intended as a professional work tool. Amazon envisions it as a personal AI companion that integrates into your daily life. By connecting with Google services, Bee can link a recorded conversation to an actionable task. For instance, after meeting someone at a conference, it might suggest connecting with them on LinkedIn or researching their product.

You can also use it to leave voice notes for yourself, serving as a convenient alternative to typing reminders in a notes app.

Another feature in the Bee app lets you review memories from past days, while a "Grow" section provides personalized insights as the AI learns more about you. You can also confirm and add information to a personal "facts" section, similar to other AI chatbots' ability to remember details from your conversations.

Amazon has announced that more features for Bee will be rolled out over the coming year.

Bee is not always listening by default—a design choice that contrasts with rival wearables like the AI Pin, which faced criticism for potential privacy issues. The intended use is to ask for permission before recording a conversation, unless you're at a public event where recording is generally expected.

When recording is active, a green light turns on to clearly signal to others that the device is in use.

We found Bee's sports band to be somewhat flimsy. It detached twice during wear, even during sedentary activities like riding in a taxi with minimal hand movement. We haven't tested the clip-on pin accessory yet, but it appears more sturdy.

Overall, Bee's mobile app design is significantly more polished and user-friendly than Amazon's in-house efforts like the Alexa mobile experience. However, the core premise—that we need a dedicated AI device to record and learn from our conversations—remains largely unproven. Is there a genuine use case for such devices among consumers outside of professional settings like meetings and interviews?

Furthermore, if AI listening devices become mainstream, it will likely necessitate a cultural shift regarding what is considered appropriate. Today, casually video-recording strangers in public, while often legal, is generally frowned upon. Similarly, recording audio with an AI device without prior consent may be viewed as intrusive or in poor taste.

Not everyone will adhere to such social norms, of course, potentially leading people to censor their speech in public spaces.

A telling moment occurred at CES. While chatting with a representative at a booth, they jokingly said, 'Say that louder into my microphone,' pointing to a discreet AI recording device on their shirt after I made a comment about a competitor's product. It was a stark reminder that in the near future, any casual conversation could become "on the record," regardless of consent.

Bee's market acceptance—or lack thereof—will ultimately help Amazon gauge whether this is a future consumers are truly ready to embrace.