A recent update indicated that an Apple security camera might launch in 2026, with over 80% of participants expressing intent to purchase one.
We suggested that Apple’s Intelligence features will likely be part of this launch, and a newly granted patent reinforces this perspective…
Previously, we explored the advancements in AI capabilities we’ve observed in smart cameras, and we anticipate Apple will take this even further.
The initial AI feature introduced was person-detection. When motion was detected, the AI system would analyze the frame for human-like shapes, activating recording only if a person was identified.
More sophisticated models include person-recognition, allowing them to recognize household members, thereby omitting recordings of them and only capturing clips of unfamiliar individuals.
It appears that Apple’s forthcoming smart home camera will enhance this with Apple Intelligence features, showcasing considerable potential benefits for a more intelligent home security system.
A recently granted Apple patent supports this notion, detailing how the camera could identify individuals even when their face is not clearly visible from the captured angle.
According to Apple, the system would initially utilize facial recognition to identify someone; however, it would also gather information on other physical attributes.
A device executes facial recognition to ascertain the identity of the first individual displayed in a primary video feed. The device subsequently identifies and records physical characteristics of the first individual from this video feed, linking this stored data to the recognized face.
Once it gathers data regarding body characteristics—including elements like clothing or gait—it can recognize the individual later, even if the camera cannot clearly capture their face.
Later, the device may process a secondary video feed showing another individual whose face is not recognized (due to obstruction or poor imaging) or is simply not visible (such as when they are walking away). The device can then compare the stored physical characteristics of the first person with the attributes of the second person presented in the secondary video feed. Based on this analysis, the device can notify if the second individual corresponds to the identity of the first. This enables the device to identify a person without needing a clear view of their face.
The patent indicates that physical characteristic data may only be kept temporarily. For instance, recognizing someone by their outfit would likely succeed only if viewed again that same day, whereas traits like body shape could be retained for a more extended period.
Characteristics such as gait would be analyzed from a video segment as opposed to static images.
In one scenario, the physical traits may be associated with an individual’s motion over time (e.g., their walking gait). Here, a “motionprint” that records a person’s unique movements over time may be encoded in an appropriate data structure (like a multidimensional vector).
We emphasize our common disclaimer that Apple files for many patents that never make it to consumer products, yet a security camera from Apple appears to be a compelling opportunity, particularly with the advancement of Apple Intelligence. It now seems like a clear logical step forward.
Additionally, do you share our sentiment that Apple could still market this 2003 camera design effectively in 2024?
Photo of Apple iSight webcam: Roman/CC2.0 (enhanced using AI; this revision is also CC2.0)
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