Amazon Acquires AI Wearable Startup ‘B’, Eyes Expansion Beyond Smart Speakers
Amazon has reportedly acquired the AI wearable startup ‘B’, a move confirmed by its founder Maria de Lourdes Zolho, though Amazon has stated the deal is not yet finalized, according to TechCrunch.
The startup ‘B’ is known for developing a Fitbit-like smart bracelet priced at $49.99, along with a $19 monthly subscription, and a companion app for the Apple Watch. The device records users’ conversations — unless manually turned off — with the aim of analyzing dialogues to generate reminders and to-do lists.
‘B’ has further ambitions of developing a “cloud phone,” which would function as a deeply personalized assistant by accessing user accounts and notifications.
The acquisition signals Amazon’s growing interest in AI-powered wearable devices, indicating a potential expansion beyond its current lineup of voice-enabled smart speakers. Despite privacy concerns, ‘B’ has assured that users can delete their data at any time and that recorded audio is not used for AI training.
However, it remains unclear whether privacy policies or data handling practices will change once the company is fully integrated into Amazon.
