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 this feature, which can differentiate between a person, animal, or vehicle, and trigger the alarm accordingly. So no need 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. But many users see this as a small price to pay for added security. The Basic Secure plan also includes back-to-back video clip recording, activity zones, and a 30-day video history.
The new update is not fool-proof but can help scare intruders away or alert you to motion. You’ll still receive smartphone notifications for regular motion alerts and can use the cameras to see what triggered the siren. The update is available on both iOS and Android devices.
To see if you have the new update, check 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. Paid subscriptions offer additional features like AI motion detection and video history. Make sure to set up automatic triggers and specify which activities activate the motion sensor to avoid false alarms from pets.