Five years ago, several manufacturers in the security industry introduced a vision for the future of security—divided into three stages: “visible,†“clear,†and “understandable.†Among these, “understanding†has become the current hot topic, with the prototype of AI emerging as a key player. Before 2016, the industry had already started exploring intelligent applications such as facial recognition and video structuring. However, these early attempts suffered from low accuracy and high false positive rates, making it difficult to manage large volumes of data effectively. As a result, smart applications lacked practical utility. Let’s explore more about this with insights from the security electronics editor.
In recent years, with advancements in deep learning, big data, and algorithm technologies, video structuring, massive data processing, and search technologies have gradually matured. In 2016, AI and big data began to take root in the security industry. By 2017, AI applications in security were becoming widespread, with numerous AI startups entering the field. It became clear that after 2017, “AI†was set to become a major force in the security sector.
+AI Enhances Video ApplicationsToday, many AI-focused startups are entering the security industry, forming what is known as “AI + Security†companies. On the other hand, traditional security firms are also integrating AI into their existing systems, evolving into “Security + AI†enterprises. These approaches are now highlighting the commercial value of security products and systems.
Currently, most AI applications in the security industry are still considered non-critical. This is due to the immaturity of AI in various security scenarios, where AI alone cannot solve all problems. Instead, it needs to be combined with technologies like big data, IoT, cloud computing, and blockchain to unlock greater value. In the future, we can expect more integrations such as “Security + IoT,†“Security + Big Data,†and “Security + Blockchain.â€
With increasing investment in AI, the capital market is showing growing confidence in its potential. The security industry, being one of the main application areas for AI, is witnessing a trend toward homogenization. For example, in facial recognition, many AI vendors focus only on recognition rates, but fail to recognize that facial recognition is just one of the enabling technologies in security applications. A deeper understanding of the security domain can help bring AI closer to real-world implementation and create stronger support. This is an advantage that traditional security companies like Hikvision, Dahua, and others possess, thanks to their long-term experience in the market.
As AI becomes the mainstream in the security industry, if AI startups collaborate with traditional security vendors, leveraging each other's strengths, they can accelerate the adoption of AI in the sector. The author believes that through joint innovation and ecosystem collaboration, more valuable AI products and solutions can be delivered to the security market. Traditional security companies are building their core competitiveness by establishing strategic partnerships with AI and VR startups, which is becoming a key trend in the industry's future development.
Future Trends: Cloud + Edge?Despite progress, AI still faces challenges in security applications. It's not just about whether something works, but about solving critical issues. Many security applications require tailored solutions, which often come at a high cost.
Looking ahead, “cloud + edge†is expected to become the mainstream, with the future moving toward coordinated “federated learning.†In this model, smart devices will not only collect data but also have online learning capabilities. As more intelligent devices gain learning abilities, they will send training models to the cloud, enabling refined migration learning. This process will improve AI models, which can then be updated to front-end devices, creating a closed-loop ecosystem. This will fully unleash the potential of video technology, opening up endless possibilities.
This article discusses the growth of “Security + AI†and the vast business opportunities it brings. If you want to learn more, please follow eeworld. eeworld Electronic Engineering will provide you with more comprehensive, detailed, and up-to-date information.
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