Wyze Adds AI-Powered Person Detection To Its Security Cameras

Wyze has released a free firmware update that brings a Person Detection feature to the company's existing Wyze Cam v2 (the cube-shaped model), as well as the tower-shaped and motorized Wyze Cam Pan. The new feature is powered by artificial intelligence under a partnership with Xnor.ai, making it possible to add the new ability without requiring a hardware upgrade.

The new Person Detection feature is exactly what it sounds like — the ability to detect when a person is in the camera's field of view. Users can choose to receive notifications when the Wyze Cam or Wyze Cam Pan identifies people in real-time, making it possible to quickly pull up a video feed if a person suddenly appears in a room where no one was expected.

As well, the Person Detection ability enables users to rapidly find saved footage in which people are visible, reducing the amount of time it takes to find the content that matters most. The feature had been heavily requested by Wyze customers, though it had seemed unlikely that it would arrive given the cameras' incredibly low prices.

Users can update their camera's software by opening the Wyze app and selecting the product. The app should automatically display a prompt alerting the user to a newly available update and asking whether the user wants to install the update. The device should remain turned on during the update process.

Wyze Cam blasted onto the market as a $20 home security camera. The company has since released a second generation version of the model at the same price point, offering a few notable updates, as well as a different camera model called the Wyze Cam Pan. The company is also preparing to release a connected light bulb and currently sells a home sensor kit.