The concept of wearable AI gadgets has not yet fully caught on. Devices such as the **[Rabbit R1](https://mashable.com/article/rabbit-r1-hands-on-review)** and the **[Humane AI Pin](https://mashable.com/article/humane-ai-pin-reviews)** have been criticized for setting high expectations but failing to deliver. Nonetheless, a newcomer named Bee is striving to alter this perception with its wrist-mounted AI gadget, the Bee Pioneer.
### Presenting the Bee Pioneer
The Bee Pioneer is crafted to effortlessly blend into your routine by attuning to your activities and constructing a tailored knowledge database. It can monitor your actions, generate to-do lists from its observations, and even sift through previous dialogues. Priced at only $49.99, it’s considerably more budget-friendly than various other AI gadgets available.
I had the chance to delve into the Bee Pioneer, its related Bee AI service, and converse with Bee’s co-founders, Ethan Sutin and Maria de Lourdes Zollo, during **[CES 2025](https://mashable.com/article/ces-2025-highlights)**.
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### A Simple Aesthetic
Upon initial observation, the Bee Pioneer does not loudly announce itself as an “AI gadget.” Its design is modest, akin to a basic fitness tracker. Constructed from black plastic, it includes a single multi-functional button. A quick press toggles the microphone, while a long press can invoke the Bee AI assistant or be tailored for other uses.
Notably, the device lacks integrated speakers. Instead, the AI’s responses are projected through your phone’s speakers or headphones, ensuring clarity even in bustling environments. The microphones, however, are engineered to be sensitive enough to capture speech in crowded spaces. According to co-founder Ethan Sutin, if you can hear a person talking, the device is likely picking it up as well.
The Bee Pioneer also provides versatility in its use. The module can detach from the wristband and attach to different accessories, such as a clip for your attire. While this thoughtful feature is intriguing, it remains to be seen how many users will favor it over wearing it purely as a bracelet.
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### The App is Where It Shines
The wristband is merely a listening apparatus; the true innovation resides within the Bee app. The app serves as a personal archive, providing transcripts of exchanges, summaries of location history, and more. It essentially transforms into a digital journal of your existence.
The app’s interface is user-friendly, and although my exploration was brief, it appeared easy to navigate. You can pose questions to the AI assistant regarding previous discussions, and it will generate tailored answers by utilizing a mix of commercial and open-source language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini. While audio recordings aren’t saved by the app, complete transcripts of conversations are stored.
A notable attribute is the capacity to label individuals you engage with. The AI can recognize voices and accurately tag them in subsequent conversations. Moreover, the app can create reminders and task lists based on your dialogues. For example, it can pinpoint tasks needing attention and rank them accordingly. Bee also connects with platforms like Gmail and Google Calendar, enabling you to inquire about your emails or scheduled events.
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### Looking Forward: The Path of Tailored AI
Bee has grand aspirations for its AI assistant. A standout showcase at CES involved the assistant executing tasks on a cloud-based emulated Android phone. For example, it could autonomously send a WhatsApp message, replicating human behavior. Although the final version will not reveal the emulated phone interface, observing the assistant undertake these actions was captivating.
Even with this sophisticated capability, Bee’s co-founders don’t view their AI as a substitute for all other assistants. Rather, they perceive it as a supplementary tool, delivering an ultra-personalized experience aimed at assisting users in recalling conversations and overseeing tasks.
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### Tackling Privacy Issues
As with any gadget that gathers personal information, privacy is a major issue. Though the emulated phone function is still in beta, Bee is committed to guaranteeing its security prior to a wider rollout. However, other privacy concerns persist. While the device does not retain audio recordings, it archives entire conversation transcripts, which may unsettle some users. Although you can mute the device, remembering to do so in private moments might not always be reasonable.
Bee is taking proactive steps to mitigate security threats. The company intends to establish a bug bounty program to discover and rectify vulnerabilities. The co-founders highlighted that privacy and security are integral to their business philosophy, recognizing that any breach could threaten the product’s viability.
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### Concluding Thoughts
The Bee Pioneer offers a novel perspective on wearable AI, delivering a more economical and personalized experience compared to its forebears. While its understated design and app-based capabilities are encouraging, the device does provoke legitimate concerns regarding privacy and data protection. If Bee can effectively navigate these issues, it