AI and IoT: A Powerful Combination that is Revolutionizing Home Security

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) has helped home security evolve from simple alarm systems into intelligent networks that protect homes against theft, intrusions and loss of property. They are becoming affordable, easier to install, and there is a growing demand in the market for such security solutions. A Redseer Strategy Consultants report valued the smart home segment in India to be worth Rs 90,000 crore in 2024 and projected it to nearly double to reach Rs 140,000 crore by 2028. Security-related products are expected to be the most in-demand category in this space. There are several reasons why home security has been undergoing so many changes, and it is worth looking into these factors that will continue to push the ecosystem to evolve further.

Traditional security is now smarter

Earlier, security systems relied on basic sensors and alarms. This required homeowners to monitor and respond to threats manually. In some places, this system was provided as a service wherein the homeowner would be notified about a possible intrusion. Numbers shared by The Business Research Company have shown that a home is three times more likely to be susceptible to a break-in attempt compared to one that has security systems in place. However, a reactive mechanism isn’t always helpful because only a really fast response can help stop the theft and catch the perpetrators. Today’s AI-powered security systems are proactive as they collect more data—seen and unseen—from their surroundings to detect patterns and relay them in real-time. This shortens real-time decision-making and response times by a great deal.

AI’s Role in modern security has grown

The backbone of modern security systems is advanced AI algorithms that can distinguish between routine activities and genuine threats. Machine learning algorithms, for instance, can recognize familiar faces and be trained to track gestures to flag unusual behavior, ‘listen’ to different sounds, and identify the relevant ones like the breaking of glass or unusual footsteps at an unusual time of the day. Thwarting crime isn’t the only objective of smart home systems. IoT integration in smart home solutions can also be utilized to detect anomalies such as a gas or water leak, short circuit or fire to alert homeowners in time.

Integrating IoT devices can create a fortified security mesh

When networked, IoT devices can form an interconnected web of security throughout the home. Like a force field, they work as a cohesive unit, supplying essential data to the security command center, which provides insights and takes necessary action whenever needed. Being ‘aware’ allows every area of the house to respond with an appropriate action—switch off electricity in a room, reengage the smart locks, place the peripheral cameras on alert, etc.—and prevent untoward incidents from occurring.

Transforming the power of data with analytics

The combination of AI and IoT generates valuable data that can be mined to form detailed analyses and extract insights that would otherwise be difficult to understand in their raw form. Modern security systems are able to analyze data, identify patterns and detect anomalies. For instance, visits to a house at odd hours of the day—which are determined by comparing with that home’s entry times, number of residents, regular visitor schedules, and common daily activities—by unidentified individuals will alert the system into kicking into action. Edge analytics, for instance, is an interesting trend where data is analyzed on the security device itself, allowing home security systems to react to situations in near real-time and lower response times significantly. Plus, it’s more cost-effective too since it saves power and bandwidth.

As improvements in AI-enabled technology and IoT devices continue to evolve, and new surveillance methods are designed, other methods like edge computing and advanced encryption techniques will also emerge to protect against cyber threats. However, despite all these advances, the integration of AI and IoT will enhance, and not replace, human judgment in home security. Automation will make the home security system the ruler of the house. Instead, it will be the powerful tool for homeowners who want to secure their homes effectively while having control over every aspect of the set-up.