A new upgrade for smart home cameras is here to scare off burglars using artificial intelligence. The update allows the cameras to automatically detect intruders and sound an 80-decibel siren.
Philips Hue Secure cameras now have the ability to differentiate between a person, animal, or vehicle, and trigger the alarm accordingly. This means you won’t have to worry about your pets setting off the sensor in the middle of the night.
“You can now set your cameras or sensors to trigger an alarm automatically,” Philips explained. “If you have a camera with a Secure plan, you can even choose which type of motion triggers an alarm with advanced, AI-powered alerts.”
To access this feature, you’ll need to be a Secure plan member, which costs $39.99 or £34.99 a year for a single camera. Many users see this as a small price to pay for added security.
The update also includes back-to-back video clip recording, activity zones, and a 30-day video history. For those who want more coverage, the Plus Secure plan offers coverage for all cameras and 60 days of video recording.
To check if you have the new update, look for version 5.22 on your devices. You can arm the alarm with a single tap on the Secure tile in your app’s Home panel.
While the new update isn’t fool-proof, it can help scare off intruders or at least alert you to motion. You’ll still receive regular motion alerts via smartphone notifications and can view what triggered the siren using the cameras.
The update is available now for both iOS and Android versions of the app. Make sure to set up automatic triggers and choose specific activities to avoid false alarms from pets.