Key Points
- Ring introduces AI-powered Smart Video Search for 24/7 footage navigation.
- Users can quickly type text queries to find specific events in their video history.
- The feature will be part of the new $20 Ring Home subscription service on November 5th.
- Despite past controversies, Ring emphasizes its commitment to privacy and responsible AI use.
Last week, Ring, the Amazon-owned home security company, announced a new feature that allows users to capture video 24/7. However, continuously recording video footage posed a challenge: users would have to sift through hours of video to find relevant moments. To address this, Ring has now introduced Smart Video Search, an AI-powered feature designed to help subscribers quickly locate specific events in their video history.
This feature will be part of the upcoming Ring Home subscription service, which costs $20 per month and will launch on November 5th. Powered by Ring IQ, a blend of Ring’s AI technology and in-house expertise, the system uses Visual Language Modeling (VLM) to match user-typed text queries with relevant images from recorded footage.
With Smart Video Search, users no longer need to scroll through long video recordings manually. Instead, they can type specific queries into the Ring app, such as “raccoon in the backyard last night” or “red bicycle in the driveway,” the AI will display moments that match the search.
Although some may feel uncomfortable using this feature to monitor family members, Ring has emphasized its commitment to privacy. According to the company, it is a “leader in developing privacy features” and focuses on responsible AI development. Additionally, the system incorporates an input moderation technique to prevent users from searching for inappropriate or harmful content.
Despite Ring’s reassurances, the company has faced privacy-related controversies in the past. Concerns remain about the increasing presence of Amazon’s AI technology in homes. Nonetheless, for those who trust Ring’s privacy safeguards, Smart Video Search will be available to select customers as part of a public beta. The feature will function across all Ring video doorbells and cameras.
