New uses for AI
Emerging applications of AI in IP cameras provide accurate detection, powerful search capabilities, advanced data analysis, and enhanced image quality. Combined with built-in analytics, AI helps streamline forensic investigations and also supports several mission-critical business functions.
Performance improvements
Many companies, including Hanwha, initially began incorporating AI into their products on a selective and specific basis. Today, AI has become a core feature of most product lines. Many new and existing products are incorporating AI technology, driving their performance to unprecedented levels and adding a new layer of business intelligence to enable new vision solutions that address complex customer challenges.
This trend doesn't just relate to devices – it's all part of the continuing convergence of hardware devices and software solutions, combining 24/7 protection with the latest advancements in AI, analytics, and cloud-based management to create a data-driven, analytics-based platform.
A new breed of business intelligence software can leverage data collected by edge AI analytics built into IP cameras to monitor market trends and events in real time. These software applications can process metadata and display contextualized data through customizable widgets and charts in visual dashboards. This gives customers context about their facilities and operations, providing insights that can turn unrealized data into actionable insights.
A new breed of surveillance applications
AI enables a variety of monitoring applications like remote system monitoring, cloud-based services, analytics, data collection, etc. AI enables cloud and remote monitoring solutions to effectively manage bandwidth by only alerting your team when important events occur, such as people being present or loitering in the area.
Previously, cloud recording was limited to continuous recording and motion detection processing in the cloud, but now edge AI processing can be combined with cloud solutions. Many remote surveillance solutions use simple SMTP email notifications and short video clips.
With the ability to transmit detailed metadata, operators can quickly review relevant information and only receive notifications about items that are relevant to them. When an incident occurs, people of interest can be located in minutes, rather than spending hours sifting through hundreds of camera streams.
AI cameras are also being used to improve operational efficiency in “non-security” applications. A common example is workplace safety. For example, if a warehouse or manufacturing facility has areas where people normally shouldn't be, AI can change and record in real time when this rule is violated.
In retail stores, AI-enabled cameras can be used for marketing and merchandising opportunities, providing heat maps to see hot and cool areas on the floor, traffic patterns, and more, allowing retailers to adjust the placement of end caps and other merchandise without the need for a separate, siloed system.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Security Today.
