« The world’s first GPT-enabled indoor camera?! » I screamed in confusion when I spotted the Psync Genie S at Pepcom (a showcase where vendors show off their most advanced technologies) earlier this month.
It seems that companies, like Salt Baesprinkle AI into each product they can get their hands on it – even if it doesn’t necessarily make sense. For example, you can find ChatGPT in these smart glasses. After all, A.I. East is all the rage right now, so why not take advantage of its popularity, right?
The Genie S interior camera ironically placed on the exterior.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
When Psync reps told me they had integrated AI into an indoor camera, I admit I was confused at first. “How does AI benefit an indoor camera?” I was wondering. However, after they explained it to me, I can see it being beneficial for a few use cases.
How does the Genie S indoor camera use AI?
Genie S uses advanced multimodal AI enhanced by a VLM (Visual Language Model). It can “recognize” images and generate descriptive text from them. Here are three ways this indoor camera leverages this AI technology:
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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. So if something is out of place, you can tap on it and it will tell you what it is.
Genie S companion app recognizes objects in the room with AI
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
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It can detect and recognize activity, 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 will get a more detailed description such as « a girl in an orange sweater appeared at the doorway. » (You can also configure the app to tell you what type of motion detection activity merits notification.)
Genie S can send descriptive texts of what it “sees”.
Credit: Psync
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You can search Genie S captures with specific object/person queries. For example, if you want to look through records to see why there’s a spill in your living room, you can search for words like « pet » or « puppy » to find the culprit.
I don’t see the benefit of receiving AI-assisted descriptive notifications in itselfbut what is really what 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 small, inconsequential movement, from fluttering squirrels to passing cars.
The Genie S indoor camera uses AI to detect and recognize people and objects.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
If I could configure this camera to only send me notifications when it recognizes humans, I’ll be a happy camper. Luckily, I can configure the Genie S to send me notifications based on certain categories. For example, you can set it to only send text messages if it recognizes a « man » or « boy » to keep tabs on your husband and son.
Another major selling point for me is that you can search through indoor camera captures using descriptive text. Sift through your recording library to find this A video can be painful, but with the Genie S you can simply type « pet » into the search box, for example, allowing you to find exactly what you need.
By the way, purchasing the Genie S alone will not give you access to its AI capabilities. You need to subscribe to a $0.99 per month service called ViewSay, which is currently in beta.
A quick look at the Genie S specs
The Genie S, even without the ViewSay subscription, presents itself as an indoor camera, according to specifications.
It uses a companion app called Psync, which works 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 activate its built-in spotlight feature . . There is a brightness slider on the app, which allows you to adjust the luminance to your liking.
You can increase the brightness, which is beneficial for dark areas.
Credit: Psync
You can also use the companion app to track and track targets. It can rotate horizontally 350 degrees and vertically 125 degrees. Here are some other specifications to consider:
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5MP camera
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2560 x 1440 resolution image
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Captures content in full portrait mode
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Support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
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Up to 64 GB of storage
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Two-way communication with people in the room via the “call” function
You can tap “Call” to talk to anyone you see on camera.
Credit: Psync
THE Genie S starts at $34.99. Stay tuned! I plan to thoroughly test the Genie S in an in-depth review, so keep an eye out for my review of this fascinating GPT-enabled indoor camera.