In 2026, the landscape of security cameras has fundamentally shifted, driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). Today's best AI security cameras do more than simply record footage; they intelligently analyze and interpret what they capture, providing unprecedented accuracy, convenience, and efficiency in surveillance.
With capabilities like precise human and vehicle detection, reliable face recognition, and advanced license plate identification, these AI-enabled cameras significantly reduce false alarms and streamline security management. Beyond basic detection, modern AI security cameras offer powerful analytics, customizable alerts, and intuitive interfaces, making it faster and easier to find critical footage when it matters most. Here are the best ones in 2026.
1. Verkada CB62-E
Starting with Verkada CB62-E. It represents a major leap forward for anyone searching for the best AI security camera in 2026. Blending intelligent monitoring, privacy protection, and seamless usability, it offers a complete AI security camera system designed for today’s evolving needs.
Let's start with Live Face Blur, a breakthrough that anonymizes individuals in real time during live monitoring. Ideal for sensitive environments like schools, hospitals, and public spaces, this feature ensures compliance with privacy standards while maintaining full access to unaltered footage for evidence purposes. It answers an important question many ask today: What is an AI security camera? Simply put, it's a smarter, safer, and more ethical way to secure spaces without sacrificing individual rights.
Beyond privacy, the CB62-E’s powerful AI security camera software leverages a second-generation chip and dedicated vision co-processor to deliver real-time detection of people and vehicles. Unlike basic motion sensing, it understands what’s moving, tagging and indexing important events for instant review. Operators can use Smart Filters to search by clothing color, vehicle type, gender, or license plate digits, making investigations faster and more precise than ever.
Expanding its capabilities, Object Search allows security teams to track individuals or vehicles across multiple cameras with a single click, automatically building a visual timeline. Whether it's following a suspect through a building or spotting a suspicious car across different lots, Verkada’s AI security camera monitoring features make complex forensic searches effortless.
Features like Motion Trails add even more power, visually tracing people's or vehicles' paths through a scene. Combined with the History Player for seamless timeline scrubbing and clip generation, users can review hours of footage in minutes and share evidence securely with just a few clicks.
All these capabilities are unified within the cloud-based Verkada Command platform: a user-friendly interface that integrates video feeds, door access control, environmental sensors, and alerts into a single pane of glass. Designed for scalability and speed, this is a solution built not just for security experts but for any modern team needing reliable, real-time insights from their AI CCTV.
During real-world testing at ISC West 2025, Verkada demonstrated how its AI security camera software could solve three investigations in under five minutes. This was achieved with participants who had never used the Verkada Command platform before, showcasing the intuitive design of their AI security camera system. Thanks to their advanced AI capabilities, each investigation was completed in just a few steps, with the AI security camera doing the heavy lifting. All users needed to do was enter information as if they were performing a simple online search, and the relevant event appeared in seconds. It was a clear demonstration of how AI CCTV solutions like Verkada can turn what used to be complex forensic searches into quick, user-friendly investigations.
In a world flooded with complex AI claims, Verkada proves that delivering the best AI security camera isn't about throwing buzzwords around; it's about creating solutions that are intuitive, fast, and genuinely transformative.
Industry Update: AI Intercoms by Verkada
Alongside AI cameras, Verkada is also making big strides in smart intercom technology. Our October update dives deep into the new line of AI Intercoms – check our analysis in “AI Intercoms: Next-Gen Innovation 2025,” featuring Verkada's latest solutions. Highlights include:
- Instant live captions and transcription, even in loud environments.
- AI voice directory that lets visitors simply say who they're here to visit – no scrolling through lists.
- Real-time speech translation, breaking language barriers.
- A unified cloud dashboard (Verkada Command) for seamless scaling and management.
- Event analytics and easy evidence export, tightly integrated with video.
According to David Zhai, more intercom innovations are already planned for Verkada:
“We built this new feature called AI Voice Directory, which lets you tell the intercom who you’re here to visit, and the system is smart enough to make the right call. This was the most obvious and easiest function we could build. But stay tuned for more, more features are coming down the road.” - David Zhai, Director of Product Management, Intercom.
This article covers Verkada’s AI intercoms as a next step in physical security, just after the major VerkadaOne 2025 update. At the end of this section, you’ll also find the newly embedded VerkadaOne video:
2. UniFi Protect AI Pro
Now looking at the UniFi Protect AI Pro bullet camera from Ubiquiti. It captures 4K Ultra HD video with a 1/1.8″ sensor and offers a motorized 3× optical zoom, enabling it to adapt from wide-angle to focused views as needed. Strong night vision extends up to 25 meters with IR illumination, while a built-in microphone and speaker enable full two-way audio communication. As part of a complete AI security camera system, its core strength lies in its real-time AI analytics. The camera can intelligently detect people, vehicles, and animals, and supports facial recognition through its Familiar Faces feature as well as license plate recognition, all processed locally. This allows UniFi Protect users to configure customized alerts, monitor specific zones, and conduct rapid forensic searches across recorded footage, all without relying on cloud servers.
In practice, the AI Pro demonstrates how AI CCTV can simplify surveillance workflows, allowing users to quickly identify important events while minimizing irrelevant alerts. For users seeking the best AI security camera that combines edge AI intelligence, durable hardware, and a user-friendly software ecosystem, the UniFi Protect AI Pro delivers a practical and scalable solution.
3. Ajax Systems TurretCam
Next in line, we are looking at the Ajax Systems TurretCam. Designed with built-in AI, seamless integration into the Ajax Systems intrusion line, and a privacy-first approach, it exemplifies what a modern AI security camera should offer. The TurretCam is part of Ajax’s expanding AI security camera system, blending edge-based intelligence with the flexibility of their platform. Compact and discreet, it is well-suited for both indoor and outdoor applications, providing AI security camera monitoring without adding complexity to deployment.
At its core, the TurretCam integrates real-time person and vehicle detection using on-board AI processing. Rather than flagging every minor movement like shadows or passing animals, the camera intelligently identifies human or vehicle presence with high accuracy. This kind of precision reflects the best AI security camera expectations today, where meaningful activity is prioritized and false alarms are minimized. Ajax’s approach to AI CCTV emphasizes practical benefits: instant event classification, streamlined notifications, and straightforward filtering through their desktop and mobile applications.
Clarity in vision is also a strong point. The TurretCam is equipped with a 4K ultra HD sensor, wide-angle optics, and infrared illumination for night monitoring. Combined with AI processing, it ensures reliable AI security camera outdoor performance across different lighting and environmental conditions. Its robust IP65 rating and PoE support simplify installation, making it adaptable for various real-world deployments, from residential driveways to commercial parking lots.
As we mentioned earlier, Ajax integrates video surveillance with their broader security ecosystem. Through their newly expanded desktop application, users can manage cameras alongside alarm systems, environmental sensors, and automation tools. The AI security camera software allows for real-time streaming, rapid event review, and intuitive sorting of footage based on object type, whether person or vehicle. While TurretCam focuses primarily on object-based analytics rather than deep facial recognition or license plate indexing, it remains highly effective for day-to-day monitoring and incident verification.
Check out our review and explore the features of Ajax cameras with the Ajax TurretCam:
4. Milesight AI Pro Bullet Plus
The Milesight AI Pro Bullet Plus offers a powerful combination of ultra-HD imaging, advanced edge AI analytics, and robust outdoor durability, setting a new benchmark for professional-grade AI security camera systems. It reflects the growing demand for AI security cameras that deliver precision, flexibility, and autonomy without dependency on cloud services.
Built around a 4K Ultra HD Sony STARVIS sensor, the Bullet Plus captures vivid video with a motorized zoom lens capable of up to 12× optical zoom, providing flexible coverage from wide areas to detailed scenes. Low-light environments are handled confidently through Super WDR technology and Smart IR LEDs that automatically adjust for optimal night vision up to 50 meters. As an AI security camera outdoor solution, its IP67 weatherproof and IK10 vandal-proof design ensures reliable performance even in harsh conditions.
Onboard AI security camera software enables accurate classification of people, vehicles, and non-motorized objects like bicycles, while ignoring irrelevant motion. Smart event detection features like intrusion detection, line crossing, and region entrance/exit monitoring empower proactive threat management. The camera can also detect faces for snapshot capture and perform people counting with heatmaps to provide actionable business intelligence. These AI features turn the Bullet Plus into a practical example of what an AI security camera is that delivers real-world operational value.
The system supports edge recording via a built-in microSD slot, two-way audio communication through SIP/VoIP protocols, and NDAA compliance for regulated environments. Users can manage the camera through standard ONVIF-compatible VMS platforms or use Milesight's free CMS software and mobile app for a complete solution. For those seeking the best AI security camera that combines high-resolution video, intelligent analytics, and full local control, the Milesight AI Pro Bullet Plus provides a compelling and future-ready answer.
5. Rhombus R230 Wi-Fi Dome
The Rhombus R230 delivers a versatile and intelligent AI security camera solution, offering enterprise-grade features in a compact and flexible form factor. Designed for both indoor and outdoor environments, it demonstrates the evolution of what an AI security camera can achieve by blending edge-based analytics with seamless cloud management.
Equipped with a 5MP HD sensor, optical zoom capabilities, and wide dynamic range, the R230 captures clear, detailed footage in a wide variety of lighting conditions. Built to endure tough environments, it is rated IP66 for weather resistance and IK10 for vandal protection, making it a reliable choice for AI security camera outdoor deployments as well as high-traffic indoor areas. Integrated infrared LEDs extend visibility in low-light and nighttime conditions up to 100 feet, ensuring round-the-clock monitoring without sacrificing image quality.
On the analytics side, the R230 features on-board AI processing to detect and classify people, vehicles, and faces with high precision. Through Rhombus’s cloud-based AI security camera software, users can leverage advanced capabilities such as people counting, license plate recognition, facial recognition with enterprise licensing, heat mapping, and smart event filtering. Events are indexed automatically, allowing security teams to search footage by attributes like object type, appearance, and movement patterns, dramatically reducing the time needed for incident investigations. These features reflect a strong answer to what is an AI security camera is today: a system that understands context and prioritizes meaningful events over general motion.
The R230’s integration into the Rhombus cloud ecosystem brings additional advantages. Real-time smart alerts, audit trails, role-based access control, and integrations with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and access control systems create a unified security workflow. Edge recording with onboard storage ensures critical footage is preserved even if cloud connectivity is interrupted, and encrypted communications protect video data end-to-end. The AI capabilities also extend into operational analytics, helping organizations not only secure spaces but also optimize them with traffic analysis and behavioral insights.
Watch a video about the Rhombus Security System featuring the R230 camera:
Honorable Mentions (We Haven't Tested These Yet)
While these models haven’t been tested in our hands-on workflow yet, they stand out for their advanced features and market reputation. We’ve studied each through in-depth spec sheets, demos at industry shows, and exclusive interviews with product managers to help you discover more of the best AI security cameras for 2026.
- A multi-sensor camera system built around NVIDIA Jetson edge AI, delivering real-time analytics and flexible coverage for large and complex sites. Features include four independently motorized sensors, onboard storage, and integrated video management - ideal for enterprise deployments and critical infrastructure.
- Combines AI-powered threat detection with live human guards for immediate intervention. Unlike typical passive cameras, this system proactively deters crime by dispatching real people as soon as AI identifies a real security threat. Best choice for those seeking the strongest active protection for homes or small businesses.
- Offers wireless 4K Ultra HD imaging, solar power, and local object detection. With no monthly subscription required, it’s perfect for residential customers or remote sites looking for smart security and eco-friendly operation. Its AI engine enables real-time human detection, smart alerts, and zone-based monitoring for personalized protection without false alarms.
Each of these models embodies how AI CCTV solutions in 2026 are evolving – becoming more specialized, proactive, and accessible. Whether engineered for wide-area coverage, active threat response, or zero-maintenance operation, these cameras prove that the best AI security cameras aren’t “one-size-fits-all.” Explore more coverage and technical details on each solution with our latest interviews and show reports.
What is an AI security camera?
An AI security camera combines advanced artificial intelligence with traditional surveillance. This technology is transforming how monitoring and protection work. Unlike standard cameras that only capture video and trigger alerts on any motion, the best AI security cameras recognize, classify, and accurately track people, vehicles, animals, or even certain behaviors in real time.
With smart processors and dedicated software, these systems distinguish genuine threats from everyday activity, which greatly reduces false notifications. You'll find features like face and license plate recognition, automated scene analysis, and intelligent alerts, all processed on the device or in the cloud.
AI-powered cameras fit easily into larger security camera systems, delivering enhanced situational awareness in homes, offices, or city environments. They quickly organize footage by event or object, making it much easier to investigate incidents or respond when something happens.
In short, an AI CCTV solution does more than just record video. It helps you understand what’s happening, respond effectively, and stay ahead of security risks. That’s the key advantage of choosing the best AI security cameras in 2026: smarter monitoring for safer spaces.
Key features of AI-powered cameras
AI-powered security cameras stand apart from traditional systems thanks to a range of advanced features that elevate both protection and usability.
- Real-time Object and Person DetectionThe camera’s onboard AI instantly tells the difference between people, vehicles, animals, and general movement. Instead of endless notifications about things like shadows or wind-blown trees, you get alerts only when it matters - when an actual person or car is detected.
- Facial RecognitionAI systems match faces to employee or visitor lists, giving you automated access control and the ability to respond faster if an unknown or banned individual shows up at your site.
- License Plate RecognitionThe camera reads and tracks license plates in real time, even in low-light or high-speed scenarios. This helps manage vehicle access, monitor parking lots, and flag suspicious activity at perimeter gates.
- High-Resolution ImagingToday’s AI cameras deliver crisp 4K or higher resolution. You get fine detail on faces, license plates, and objects, so there’s no guessing during incident reviews.
- Advanced Night VisionInfrared and full-color sensors keep the image sharp even after dark. Most models work equally well outside and inside, providing reliable coverage around the clock.
- Edge-Based Video AnalyticsAI processing happens right on the camera itself. This gives you instant event detection, reduces network traffic, and keeps operations running even if the internet goes down for a moment.
- Smart Event SearchThe system lets you search footage by person, car color, license plate, or even specific behaviors. You can pull up relevant clips in seconds without wasting hours scrolling through video.
- Anomaly and Behavior DetectionAI picks up unusual movements, lingering people, or erratic activity - valuable for crowd control, retail security, and critical infrastructure monitoring.
- Instant Face Blur and Privacy ModesTo comply with privacy laws and internal policies, AI can anonymize faces right in the video stream. Security teams see what’s happening, but personal identities stay protected unless evidence really requires it.
- Custom Detection ZonesYou decide which parts of the scene matter most. Maybe you want alerts only near entrances or sensitive inventory shelves - custom zones allow precise control over what the camera watches.
- People Counting and Crowd AnalyticsMany installations use AI to count visitors, monitor crowd density, and spot gatherings before they become a security risk. Great for retail, stadiums, and event spaces.
- Automatic Scene AdaptationThe camera uses AI to adjust for changing light levels, shadows, and scene complexity. No manual tweaking needed - image quality remains optimal even as the environment shifts.
- Remote Monitoring and Cloud ManagementYou get secure access to cameras and footage from any location. Full control, rapid incident review, and configuration happen from a browser or smartphone app.
- Alerts Linked with Other SystemsAI alerts sync instantly with alarms, access control, and building automation - so a detected threat can trigger lockdowns, lights, or other protective actions automatically.
- Predictive Video StabilizationNew algorithms stabilize video in real time, so evidence stays clear even if the camera shakes - useful for mobile units, windy sites, or rapidly changing scenes.
For a deeper dive into how these technologies perform across different platforms, check out our guide: 5 Best Security Video Analytics Software 2026 – Features & Reviews.
Together, these sophisticated capabilities make AI-powered security cameras the top choice for anyone seeking reliable, effective, and truly intelligent surveillance - at home, in business, and across critical infrastructure. The result: efficient, accurate, and highly reliable security coverage that adapts to a world where threats and needs are always evolving.
What industries can benefit from AI camera systems?
AI camera systems provide precise analytics, real-time detection, and automated alerts that create serious value across many settings:
- Construction Sites: Watch fence lines for access, supervise material storage, track movement of people and vehicles, and automate safety compliance reporting.
- Retail: Instantly spot theft, analyze shopper movement, build heatmaps to optimize shelf placement, and count lines for improved service.
- Transportation and Logistics: Track vehicles with license plate recognition, monitor cargo zones and dock activity, alert on incidents, and improve passenger safety at terminals.
- Healthcare: Watch over patient rooms, control access to sensitive areas, automate compliance checks, and support emergency response in medical centers.
- Education: Secure entrances and perimeters, automate lockdowns, detect unauthorized entry, and create attendance reports for students.
- Manufacturing and Industry: Monitor hazardous zones, check for safety gear compliance, supervise machinery, and track valuable assets on busy factory floors.
- Government and Public Safety: Manage event crowds with analytics, protect public buildings, and enable instant alerts for emergency response teams.
- Residential Communities: Set up perimeter alerts, detect intrusions, simplify guest management, and connect with smart home platforms.
- Hospitality and Hotels: Automate guest identification, secure staff-only areas, monitor common spaces for loitering, and keep events secure.
- Critical Infrastructure: Protect substations, water plants, and telecom towers from intruders, vandalism, floods, and fires.
- Banking and Finance: Prevent ATM fraud, control access to vaults, monitor cash handling zones, and analyze branch foot traffic to boost efficiency.
- Sports and Entertainment Venues: Track crowd density in stadiums, control entrances, help quickly locate lost visitors, and learn from visitor data during large events.
To explore how AI surveillance software adapts to these sectors, see our review: 6 Best IP Camera Monitoring Software 2026: Which Is the Best Choice?.
Across every sector, AI camera systems bring targeted security, smoother operations, and powerful insights. That means teams can act quickly, work smarter, and protect people and property with confidence.
Considerations for implementing AI camera systems
When planning an AI camera system, success always starts with clear objectives and realistic expectations. First, organizations need to define exactly what they want to achieve - whether it’s reducing false alarms, improving perimeter coverage, or speeding up incident investigations. Clarity at this stage will shape all future decisions.
Next, review technical specs like image resolution, night performance, and weather resistance. For outdoor locations or challenging environments, these qualities matter as much as analytics features. Make sure every device matches your site's demands, not just the datasheet.
Infrastructure readiness is critical. Assess network bandwidth, storage, and cyber protections before installation. AI cameras process huge amounts of data, so both local storage and cloud backup should be scalable and secure. Compatibility with current alarms, video management software, and access control is what ensures the new system can work smoothly with what’s already in place.
If you want to expand smart analytics to older devices or non-AI models, look into upgrades like the Ubiquiti AI Port: Give Advanced AI Features to ALL Your Devices Inside UniFi Protect, which can retrofit and unify advanced functions even across existing infrastructure.
Privacy and compliance must be non-negotiable. Any modern deployment needs proper facial anonymization, clear retention policies, and access controls built to meet local laws and organizational standards. It’s not just about following regulations; it’s about earning trust from staff, visitors, and customers.
Lastly, never overlook the human factor: train operators and managers to interpret AI alerts, understand analytics limitations, and confidently manage the system. Even the best AI won’t deliver results if staff don’t know how to react or if false positives distract them from genuine threats.
Attention to these practical details is what turns AI camera tech from "nice-to-have" into a real asset, one that delivers measurably better security and smarter daily operations.
Also, watch our video on the Pipl Systems YouTube channel:
FAQs
1. How Does AI Improve Motion Detection in Security Cameras?
AI enhances motion detection in an AI security camera by adding context – distinguishing between significant events (like a person approaching) and minor ones (like wind-blown debris), boosting reliability.
2. Can AI Security Cameras Recognize Faces and Objects?
Yes, an AI security camera system often includes facial and object recognition, identifying individuals or items like vehicles, which enhances targeted AI security camera monitoring.
3. Do AI Security Cameras Require an Internet Connection to Function?
Some AI security camera software features, like cloud access, need internet, but many systems offer offline edge processing for core functions.
4. How Does AI Help Reduce False Alarms in Security Cameras?
AI in AI video surveillance filters out irrelevant triggers, focusing on meaningful activity to minimize false positives and ensure actionable alerts.
5. Are AI Security Cameras Safe from Hacking and Cyber Threats?
While AI security camera systems use encryption and updates to deter hacking, no device is fully immune; strong security practices are key.
6. How Much Do AI-Powered Security Cameras Cost?
Costs range from $200 for basic models to over $2,000 for premium AI security camera outdoor units, with optional subscriptions adding $100–$200 annually.