Smart rings, smart screens, smart TVs, smart pins, smart ice cube makers? Sure, why not! AI was everywhere at this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where companies large and small were showing off how theyre bringing AI to more devices. For Amazon, CES was a time to show off 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, can run on 97 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 like Gmail, Google Calendar, your phones 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 Apples AirPods and Metas Ray Ban AI glasses.
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