Amazon’s Ring, the smart security device brand, announced a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature on Wednesday. Named Video Descriptions, this innovative capability utilizes generative AI to provide motion activity-based text notifications to users of the company’s video cameras and doorbells. The brand emphasized its commitment to integrating more AI tools and features into its products and in-app experience. Importantly, Ring stated that the new AI feature will be compatible with all existing doorbell and camera models.
Amazon’s Ring Unveils AI Feature
In a post from the company’s newsroom, founder Jamie Siminoff elaborated on the new AI functionality. He discussed how advancements in artificial intelligence are being harnessed to enhance the user experience.
Marking what he described as “the first cornerstone pieces of our AI work,” Siminoff introduced Video Descriptions. This feature aims to help users discern between urgent and routine activity occurring inside and outside their homes, eliminating the need to watch videos for every motion detected.
Through Video Descriptions, AI models employ computer vision to analyze video content and create text descriptions. These descriptions are sent along with video footage as notifications, allowing users to read about the motion detected before viewing the actual video for further context.
The announcement noted that the feature has been optimized to focus solely on the primary subjects and actions triggering the motion alerts. Examples cited included notifications such as “A person is walking up the steps with a black dog,” and “Two people are peering into a white car in the driveway.” However, Ring did not reveal the specific AI model that powers this feature.
Siminoff indicated that Video Descriptions serves as a foundational technology, with plans for further AI features to enhance functionality. Future developments may include AI-driven notifications that consolidate multiple motion events into a single alert and a custom anomaly alert feature that will trigger only when unusual activity occurs on a property.
Currently, Video Descriptions is in beta testing for Ring Home Premium subscribers in Canada and the United States. The feature is available exclusively in English and can be activated via the Ring app. It is supported by all current Ring doorbells and cameras.
