Amazon is making changes to its Ring video doorbell and camera subscriptions with the introduction of Ring Home Premium. This new service, starting at $19.99 per month, will offer features like 24/7 recording and AI-powered video search. The subscription revamp is set to launch on November 5 in the U.S.
Ring, a subsidiary of Amazon, has seen significant success under its new CEO Liz Hamren, a former Microsoft executive. It is now the second-largest seller of security systems in the U.S. and recently turned profitable, six years after being acquired by Amazon for $1 billion.
However, the subscription changes may not be welcomed by all Ring customers. Those currently subscribed to Ring Protect Pro will lose local video storage, internet backup, and Amazon’s Eero Secure suite. In addition, without a Ring Alarm or Alarm Pro device, they will lose SOS emergency response.
For new Ring customers after November 5, there will be an additional $10 per month charge for professional alarm monitoring. Existing Ring Protect Pro subscribers, including those with Virtual Security Guard, will receive this service at no extra cost. Amazon is offering a one-year trial of Ring Home Premium to ease the transition for current subscribers.
One of the key features of Ring Home Premium is Smart Video Search, which allows users to search for specific moments in recorded video footage. This feature, currently in a public beta for select customers, lets users type queries into the Ring app to find particular events. Examples include searching for a “raccoon in the backyard last night” or a “red bicycle in the driveway.”
Initially, Smart Video Search will focus on searches related to animals, locations, packages, people, time, vehicles, weather, and activities like jumping or running. Amazon has implemented safeguards to prevent searches for offensive content and plans to refine the search feature over time.
While Amazon touts its commitment to privacy and responsible AI development, concerns have been raised about potential biases in the AI models powering Smart Video Search. A recent MIT study found that similar models were more likely to recommend police intervention when analyzing footage from minority communities compared to majority-white neighborhoods.
The launch of Smart Video Search precedes Google’s upcoming AI updates for its Nest cameras and doorbells, which will introduce detailed captions for camera footage and natural-language search functionality.
