With the new 24-7 recording feature now live, it could save hours of searching.
Last week, Ring made waves by announcing a new feature enabling continuous 24/7 video capture, ensuring that nothing is missed, even if a motion alert doesn’t trigger. While this is a welcome upgrade, it presents a new challenge: users would have to sift through hours of footage to find the events that matter.
But now, Ring, an Amazon-owned company, is solving this with its latest AI-driven innovation: Smart Video Search. This feature, part of the upcoming $20 Ring Home subscription service, promises to make finding specific moments in your video history faster, smarter, and significantly more intuitive.
Powered by Ring IQ and Visual Language Modeling
At the heart of Smart Video Search is Ring IQ, which blends Ring’s proprietary AI technology with their in-house expertise. The standout here is the use of Visual Language Modeling (VLM)—a sophisticated system that matches your text queries with relevant video footage. Instead of tediously scrubbing through hours of recordings, users can now type specific search phrases into the Ring app and instantly pull up the moments they’re looking for.
For example, you might type “raccoon in the backyard last night” to quickly find out if one of those critters knocked over your garbage cans. Or maybe you search for “red bicycle in the driveway” to revisit footage of your child learning how to ride a bike. You can even get to the bottom of who stole the last scoop of ice cream—according to Ring, at least.
Privacy and Moderation Concerns
Given the power of Smart Video Search, it’s understandable if some users feel uneasy about having an AI-enabled system that makes searching through their home video footage so seamless. Ring, however, claims to be a leader in privacy protection, emphasizing that the company is committed to developing responsible AI.
The system incorporates a sophisticated input moderation feature to prevent searches for offensive, inappropriate, or harmful content. Still, it’s worth noting that Ring has faced privacy concerns in the past, particularly with how video data has been handled in collaboration with law enforcement. Whether these claims of enhanced privacy protection will allay user concerns remains to be seen, but Ring is clearly trying to reassure its customers as it rolls out more advanced AI features.
Availability and Pricing
Smart Video Search is available now in public beta to select users and will be fully available as part of the upcoming $20 Ring Home subscription service launching on November 5th. The new feature will be compatible with all Ring video doorbells and cameras, making it a significant upgrade for those who rely on Ring’s ecosystem for home security.
While the idea of AI making it easier to review home surveillance footage is impressive, it will no doubt reignite debates about privacy, surveillance, and how much control we’re comfortable giving to tech giants like Amazon. For those who do trust Ring’s privacy assurances, the Smart Video Search feature could become a game-changer in home security monitoring, making it easier than ever to keep track of what happens around your home—whether it’s finding that missing package or solving the mystery of the upended trash bins.
This new chapter in home security starts today for beta users, with a full rollout soon to follow. If you’re ready to embrace AI-powered convenience in managing your home video surveillance, Smart Video Search just might be the tool you’ve been waiting for.