Ring has announced a new AI-powered Smart Video Search feature that allows users to search through their video archives from Ring doorbells and cameras by using keywords. The feature will be initially released as a public beta and later included in a new Ring Home Premium subscription. The AI system Ring IQ uses a vision language model to match text to images, allowing users to make practical and fun discoveries such as package deliveries or identifying individuals.
The Smart Video Search feature can recognize various objects and activities such as animals, packages, people, vehicles, weather, running, riding a bike, or playing, and distinguish between different colors and types of vehicles. The AI system is able to differentiate between specific delivery drivers and days of the week. When a keyword query is entered, the video playback jumps to the specific moment that matches the search term. However, specific identification of individuals or animals is not possible, and users need to enable the feature in the Ring app.
One of the potential uses of the Smart Video Search feature is in differentiating between singular and plural terms, such as “raccoon” or “raccoons,” to pull up relevant videos of a single or multiple animals. The feature also includes safeguards to prevent people from searching for offensive or harmful content and the option to enable search for some cameras but not others. While Ring’s CEO hinted at the feature earlier in the year, other companies like Wyze Labs have already introduced similar AI video search features for their customers.
In terms of future developments, users may desire real-time AI recognition that can trigger actions, such as locking doors or activating lights based on what is being detected in the videos. Although this capability is not currently available in Ring’s app, the AI video search feature represents a significant step towards automation and personalized video search experiences for Ring customers. Overall, Ring’s Smart Video Search feature has the potential to offer convenience and privacy benefits for users seeking to efficiently navigate their video archives and make interesting discoveries.
