More than a year after being acquired by Amazon, wearable AI startup Bee is rolling out several new products. Today, the company introduced two new AI devices and launched a Pro subscription service along with some software updates. First is the Bee Frontier, which is essentially a successor and replacement for the previous Pioneer. Similar to the Pioneer, Frontier is a module that can be inserted into a wristband or clip, allowing users to secure it to clothing or bags.
It features a button to start recording sessions or summon the app's Buzz AI assistant, as well as an LED indicator to show when the device is listening or charging. However, Frontier has seen significant improvements over its first-generation predecessor, which originally retailed for US$50 (approximately HK$390) and seemed primarily aimed at early adopters. This new version is not only smaller and lighter but also offers more color options. The original came in just one color, with black and yellow wristbands and clip attachments. While these colors may align with the bee (insect) theme, they were clearly not the most fashionable choices.
I am particularly fond of the lavender and sage color options for the Bee Frontier, while users looking for a more neutral color can opt for the black (Onyx) version. Additionally, according to Amazon, the Frontier has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, whereas the Pioneer lacked even waterproofing. Both devices come equipped with dual microphones that feature noise filtering to block out background noise; however, the effectiveness of Frontier in this regard still requires thorough testing for evaluation.
These are the main physical differences between the Frontier and Pioneer. Both share the same estimated 7-day battery life, USB-C charging port, and similar functions. Pressing the button starts a recording session, and Bee will listen to the surrounding environment, providing a transcript and summary of the conversation. A long press on the button allows users to ask the AI assistant or leave a voice memo. The Bee Frontier is currently priced at US$75 (approximately HK$585) on Amazon, and it is advisable to wait for a full review before determining if the water resistance, new colors, and smaller size justify the price.
The Pioneer is no longer available for sale.
Key Differences Between Bee Frontier and Pioneer
Bee also announced another hardware device today called Eclipse, which is a rectangular disc that can magnetically attach to a smartphone. Its design resembles a thicker credit card, featuring three built-in microphones, a button in the upper left corner, and an LED indicator beside it. Eclipse is significantly larger than Frontier, which also means it has a longer battery life. In fact, it offers three times the battery life, with Bee promising a runtime of "over 21 days." This is a new type of device for Bee, as it is not truly wearable but rather designed as a wearable device for smartphones.
However, fundamentally, Eclipse's functionality is quite similar to that of Frontier (or Pioneer). Users can press the button to start a session, the indicator light will turn on, and the AI will begin working, summarizing the user's discussions and attempting to identify speakers or the content being discussed. The company states, "As with all Bee devices, audio is never stored, cannot be accessed or shared, and users must obtain permission from call participants each time they start recording." It added that Eclipse, like Frontier, "was designed with privacy at its core, featuring only one button to turn it on or off, with a visible indicator light during session summaries."
While the idea of using a small light to alert those nearby that the device may be recording is reasonable, it is worth noting that Eclipse's shape, size, and magnetic attachment design make it resemble a portable battery charger. Such devices also have indicator lights, which could lead to confusion, causing people to mistakenly think the light indicates charging rather than listening. Nonetheless, Bee is not the only company producing AI recording devices that can attach to smartphones. There are numerous companies on the market, including Pocket, Plaud, Comu, Innaio, Ruune, Raycon, and undoubtedly more startups active in the venture capital-rich Silicon Valley.
The challenges faced by Bee's Eclipse in its design may also be issues common to the entire category. If you are interested in Bee's products and have a budget of US$100 (approximately HK$780), you can choose from four colors for Eclipse—silver, midnight, honey, and blush. Amazon states that the product will be "coming soon," but a specific timeline has not been announced.
Launch of Bee Pro Subscription Plan
Additionally, the company today launched the Bee Pro subscription plan. At US$11.99 (approximately HK$94) per month, the plan offers several additional features, such as unlimited recent conversation summaries, suggested to-do items, daily memories, conversation templates, and several new integration features announced today. Before I introduce these features, here's a brief reminder for existing Bee users. If you are concerned because these features sound like ones you have been enjoying, and worry they might suddenly be restricted behind a paywall, you may not be affected.
Bee's founder, Maria Zollo, told me in a briefing that for those customers who have been with the company since its early days, "as a thank you, we will allow them to keep their current version of Bee." Zollo added that for them, "the entire feature set will remain free forever." (All new users will also receive 30 days of free Bee Pro access.) If you want to access the features I am about to mention, you will need to subscribe to the Pro plan. First, the company is expanding its in-app integrations, which previously included Google Calendar, Gmail, and Apple's HealthKit.
It has introduced the ability to "connect to Alexa+ and Amazon.com." If you connect it to your Amazon account, your Bee can suggest products you might want to purchase that were mentioned in conversations. These product recommendations will appear on Amazon's homepage as well as in the Bee app. You can also create custom shopping lists that include items mentioned in conversations. If you connect Bee to Alexa+, you can ask your Echo or other Alexa-enabled devices for information that Bee might know.
This could include conversation summaries, to-do items, or book recommendations from friends. Once this feature is enabled, you won’t need to search for and open the Bee app on your phone to find the information you need; you can simply ask your speaker or TV for the information.
Amazon stated that Alexa devices will use voice recognition to confirm it is you and not a random bystander or curious partner before sharing information. Amazon emphasized that both features are optional, so users must provide permission before sharing information. Finally, Bee is launching a desktop application for Mac or Windows, which can be accessed through the Pro plan. This will allow you to access your reviews and chats on your computer, as well as perform additional transcriptions from the desktop. Its functionality is as comprehensive as the mobile app.
Regarding the review of Bee Private Compute, considering the recent controversies surrounding Apple’s audio intelligence features—particularly Siri Recap and Live Rewind—it is worth mentioning Bee's "Private Compute." This was described in a blog post on September 24, which noted that it is a "secure and isolated processing environment that no one, including Amazon and Bee, can access." This is not to say that this feature did not exist before the Apple event—the post did not explicitly state this, only mentioning that "Amazon and Bee developed Private Compute from the ground up."
The technology is based on the AWS Nitro system and its AWS Nitro Trusted Platform Module." In today's announcement, Amazon reiterated the principles of Bee Private Compute, including reminding users that audio is never stored. "Audio is processed in real-time for insights and deleted after processing," the company stated in a press release. It also noted that unless you choose to share, no one can access your data, and transcripts are encrypted using keys that can only be created and controlled by your device, and you can delete your transcripts and summaries at any time.
Item Specifications Device Name Bee Frontier Water Resistance Rating IP67 Color Options Lavender, Sage, Black (Onyx) Battery Life Approximately 7 days Price US$75 (approximately HK$585)