In the face of conflicting property crime statistics, many are eyeing AI-powered remote monitoring technology, including so-called “virtual guards”, as a potential solution.
-- Since 1990, the national violent crime rate in the US has dramatically fallen, now approaching a 100-year low of fewer than 350 violent crimes per 100,000 people. However, in that time, property crime has remained a persistent issue, now hovering around 2,000 property crimes per 100,000 people, according to the Pew Research Center.
The national conversation on this topic is rapidly evolving, but one thing remains constant: the popularity of video surveillance systems among American homeowners. According to Grand View Research, around 73% of US homes are equipped with at least one video-based security device. Of those homes, 1/3rd prefer an outdoor security camera, while an additional 1/3rd use a Ring-style doorbell camera.
As provider VideoGuard explains, however, many of these systems—even those that tout automatic response—have a glaring flaw. Most surveillance providers rely on human operators to recognize a threat and initiate a response, or, worse yet, they rely on the homeowner to respond manually when alerted to a potential intruder. This, they claim, leaves room for vulnerability, with potential for devastating consequences.
The answer, many top providers now claim, lies with AI and machine learning. Colin Quirk of Volt.ai explored the topic in a recent publication, finding that traditional “automatic detection” software tends to generate false reports due to an overreliance on simple motion-activated systems. These systems can be triggered by wind, weather, or shifting shadows, which he claims could desensitize both operators and homeowners to important notifications—a “boy-who-cried-wolf” effect.
Machine learning, VideoGuard goes on to detail, can be used to reduce human error and false alarms alike. Their service relies on a two-phase response, wherein threats are initially identified using an AI-powered predictive analysis model, and then verified by a human operator, or "virtual guard", who will go on to contact the relevant authorities at their discretion.
Tyler Lacoma of CNET, however, offers a different perspective. In his report on the subject, he found mixed results with systems that lean too heavily on AI for automatic detection. He highlights the anxiety that constant monitoring can cause for some; a number of Nest Doorbell users, for instance, reported feeling heightened paranoia following repeated false alerts by their AI-powered systems.
If anything, this highlights the importance of the collaborative human-AI relationship that VideoGuard describes. In the future, it is unlikely, Lacoma says, that homeowners will turn their home security exclusively over to AI, but in the short term, these tools can vastly enhance the capabilities and reliability of human operators, leading to safer neighborhoods and safer families nationwide.
Contact Info:
Name: Support VideoGuard
Email: Send Email
Organization: VideoGuard
Address: 1540 Lodestar Road #10 North York, Toronto, Ontario M3J 2X2, Canada
Phone: +1-888-231-7920
Website: https://www.videoguard.com/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89167849
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