"The world's first GPT-enabled indoor camera?!" I yelled with confusion when I spotted the Psync Genie S at Pepcom (a showcase where vendors parade their most cutting-edge tech) earlier this month.
It seems as if companies, like Salt Bae, are sprinkling AI into every product they can get their hands on – even if it doesn't necessarily make sense. For example, you can find ChatGPT in these smart glasses. After all, AI is all the rage right now, so why not take advantage of its popularity, right?
The Genie S indoor camera ironically placed outside. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWhen Psync representatives told me that they've integrated AI into an indoor camera, I'll admit that I was baffled at first. "How does AI benefit an indoor camera?" I wondered. However, after they explained it to me, I can see it being advantageous for a few use cases.
How does the Genie S indoor camera use AI?
Genie S uses an advanced multimodal AI empowered by a VLM (Visual Language Model). It can "recognize" images and generate descriptive texts from them. Here are three ways this indoor camera taps into this AI tech:
It can "scan" the room and recognize objects. From your teapot on the stove to your mug on the coffee table, Genie S can spot what's in the room. As such, if something is out of place, you can tap on it and it'll tell you what it is.
It can detect and recognize activities, whether it's your puppy wagging its tail or your child walking through the door, and send you descriptive texts. For example, instead of "motion detected," you'll get a more detailed description like, "girl in orange sweater appeared at the door entrance." (You can also configure the app to tell you which type of motion-sensing activity is worth a notification.)
You can search through Genie S' captures with specific object/person queries. For example, if you want to sift through recordings to see why there's a spill in your living room, you can search with words like "pet" or "puppy" to find the culprit.
I don't see the advantage of getting AI-assisted, descriptive notifications per se, but what really catches my eye is being able to tell the app which actions are "text worthy." For example, my outdoor security camera sends me notifications for every trivial, inconsequential motion, from skittering squirrels to passing cars.
The Genie S indoor camera uses AI to detect and recognize people and things. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIf I could set up that camera to only send me notifications when it recognizes human beings, I'd be a happy camper. Fortunately, I can set up the Genie S to send me notifications based on certain categories. For example, you can configure it to only send texts if it recognizes a "man" or "boy" to keep an eye on your husband and son.
Another major selling point for me is that you can search through the indoor camera's captures by using descriptive text. Sifting through your library of recordings to find that one video can be a pain, but with the Genie S, you can simply type "pet" in the search field, for example, allowing you to find exactly what you need.
By the way, buying the Genie S by itself won't grant you access to its AI capabilities. You must subscribe to a $0.99-per-month service called ViewSay, which is currently in beta.
A quick glance at the Genie S' specs
The Genie S, even without the ViewSay subscription, holds its own as an indoor camera, according to the specs.
It uses a companion app called Psync, which operates as a remote control for the Genie S. For example, if you place the Genie S in the kitchen, and it's dark, you can use the app to turn on its built-in spotlight feature. There is a brightness slider on the app, which lets you adjust the luminance to your liking.
You can increase the brightness, which is beneficial for dark areas. Credit: PsyncYou can also use the companion app to track and follow targets. It can rotate horizontally by 350 degrees and vertically by 125 degrees. Here are some other specs to consider:
5MP camera
2560 x 1440-resolution picture
Captures content in full portrait mode
Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support
Up to 64GB of storage
Two-way communication with people in the room via "call" feature
The Genie S starts at $34.99. Stay tuned! I plan to thoroughly test the Genie S in an in-depth analysis, so keep an eye out for my review of this fascinating GPT-enabled indoor camera.
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