Amazon’s Bee Devices Add Speech Processing Controls as Meta Faces Privacy Claims

Amazon’s newest Bee devices let users control when speech is processed, while a separate complaint about Ray-Ban Meta glasses highlights questions over unexpected voice logs and stored transcripts.

Amazon introduced Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse on Oct. 15. Frontier can be worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing and is available for $74.99. Eclipse attaches to a phone and is listed as coming soon, starting at $99.99.

Both devices have a button to control audio processing and a light that indicates when processing is on. Raw audio is deleted after processing, transcripts are encrypted, and users can delete transcripts and summaries. When users start processing a call, Bee prompts them to seek permission from the other participants.

Optional connections to Alexa+ and Amazon.com can use Bee-generated details in voice responses and shopping recommendations.

The Meta account involved a different device and a different reported issue. A Ray-Ban Meta owner said the Meta AI app contained audio and transcripts from three pairs of glasses, despite not using the “Hey Meta” command and having disabled responses without it. Meta said, “This issue has been resolved,” and said users can review and delete voice logs in settings.

Meta outlined a separate Private Processing approach for cloud processing on AI glasses on Sept. 23, before the October voice-log account. A proposed federal class action also makes separate allegations about Meta AI glasses: plaintiffs allege that video, images and audio were sent to contractors in Kenya for human review without adequate notice.