Arlo’s new AI features summarize what your camera sees

Arlo is introducing some new AI capabilities that allow its security and doorbell cameras to describe events and alert users when certain concerns are detected. The features are included in Arlo Secure 6, the latest version of Arlo’s home security subscription service, which is set to start rolling out to customers sometime this month.

Adding to the object detection capabilities introduced in Arlo Secure 5, this latest update includes advanced audio detection features that notify users when the device hears a scream, gunshot, bark, glass break, or smoke/CO alarms. Alerts will also be issued if a flame is detected by the video camera. These updates should help users to be immediately aware of any dangerous or illegal activity in the area, allowing them to view a live video feed from the camera and contact emergency services if necessary.

Arlo Secure 6 also adds some features that help to bring its offerings more in line with Google Nest products. AI-generated captions will be provided that describe events that are detected in video footage, allowing users to be informed of what’s happening quickly without watching the clip. A new video search tool akin to Ring’s Smart Video Search is also available that lets Arlo users find specific moments in their devices’ video history by searching for descriptions, keywords, or time frames to avoid manually combing through every clip in their library.

These features will only be available to users who are paying for an Arlo Secure Plus or Premium subscription, which start at $9.99 per month or $29.99 per month, respectively. These prices have jumped considerably since Arlo started offering AI-powered features, having once charged just $2.99 for cloud storage for a single camera. That’s a blow for Arlo customers who may never use these AI capabilities but are nevertheless forced to pay them if they want to save their video history for 60 days.