Eufy’s new security NVRs will boast crime-detecting AI agents
Image: Ben Patterson/Foundry
Eufy is teeing up a pair of networked security video recorder and camera kits that will—eventually—use AI agents to warn you of possible threats in real time.
The ProSecure NVR system and its bigger brother, the HomeBase Professional S1, pack in oodles of local video storage—2TB for the former, 33GB for the latter, with both units expandable to 16TB of storage, good for storing weeks or even months of 24/7 video footage without need of the cloud.
Both systems offer connections for PoE (Power over Ethernet) cameras, with the ProSecure NVR arriving in various packages that combine 4K bullet Pan/tilt/zoom and turret-style cameras with color night vision, cross-camera tracking (a Eufy feature that stiches together video events from different vantage points), and up to 8X digital zoom. The ProSecure NVR supports a total of 16 connected cameras.
The ProSecure NVR arrives in various packages that combine bullet PTZ and turret-style cameras. (The author is pictured in an unsuccessful attempt to boost a package.)
Ben Patterson/Foundry
In addition to PoE cams, the Zigbee-enabled HomeBase Pro can connect to everything from Eufy keypads and smoke detectors to video doorbells and water leak sensors. During a presentation in New York on Wednesday, Eufy ticked off such compatible devices as the Keypad E10, the Entry Sensor E20, and the Motion Sensor E20; whether other legacy Eufy devices will connect to the HomeBase Pro remains to be seen.
The HomeBase Pro also features 4G cellular connectivity and 24-hour battery backup power, good for keeping the unit running and connected to the internet during broadband and/or power outages.
The HomeBase Professional S1 4G cellular connectivity plus 24-hour battery backup power.
Ben Patterson/Foundry
But what Eufy is really touting for these new security systems is their AI abilities, including a “private” local AI agent that not only processes what’s happening on your live feeds but also proactively warns you if it suspects a crime is in progress.
The AI agent considers factors such as whether a detected person is doing anything “suspicious,” such as shining a flashlight in your car window or checking handles for unlocked doors. The agent can also differentiate between a “friendly’ delivery person and a porch pirate by checking their clothing and “posture,” Eufy says.
If the AI agent thinks there’s a sufficient threat, it can take a range of actions, from sounding the camera’s onboard siren to calling or texting the user.
On the HomeBase Pro, the local AI agent can also be paired with ExpertSecure, which Eufy is billing as the first 24/7 professional monitoring service to combine human responders with AI. In other words, given a high enough threat level, your AI agent could contact a flesh-and-blood ExpertSecure responder with details about a security event.
If the AI agent thinks there’s a sufficient threat, it can take a range of actions, from sounding the camera’s onboard siren to calling or texting the user.
Ben Patterson/Foundry
There is a catch to the AI functionality of the ProSecure NVR and HomeBase Pro, however; the advanced AI agent abilities won’t be available at launch. Instead, they’ll arrive later this year in the form of a self-installable Qualcomm Snapdragon AI chipset upgrade.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.
The ProSecure NVR is up for pre-order now in configurations ranging from $999 to $1,299. Pricing and availability for the HomeBase Professional S1 and the ExpertSecure service will be announced at a later date, Eufy says.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben’s articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men’s Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master’s degree in English literature.
