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Amazon has confirmed it has acquired AI wearable company Bee. The news was first revealed on Bee's website and on a social media post from Bee's co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. The agreement has been signed for a private amount but has not been closed, an Amazon spokesperson said in an email.
The company sells wristbands that record, transcription and provide conversational feedback for around $50. A subscription service is also planned.
These plans could potentially win Steam under Amazon ownership. Subscriptions as a recurring revenue stream were the focus of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. In the most recent quarter, the company's subscription revenue rose 9% to $11.7 billion.
In May, Jassy promoted Alexa+, the agent AI upgrade for its Alexa virtual assistant, telling analysts that the company is investing in AI to further innovate its customer service.
The company's spokesman refused to provide the numbers, but all bee employees to join Amazon received it. Last month, Jassy warned employees that AI is likely to lead to reduced workforce. This year, Amazon announced layoffs in North American retail and bookstores.
